Breezy One disinfecting robot deployed at Albuquerque International Sunport airport

June 22, 2020 | AUVSI News

Fetch Robotics, Build with Robots and the City of Albuquerque, New Mexico have launched the Breezy One disinfecting autonomous mobile robot (AMR), which is designed to protect employees and passengers from both harmful pathogens and cleaning agents.

Described as the first platform to offer efficient, hands-free, and safe sanitization specifically designed for large scale facilities, Breezy One uses a patented, environmentally safe disinfectant to quickly, safely and effectively decontaminate spaces over 100,000 square feet in just 90 minutes. The disinfected space can be re-entered in as little as two hours with no harmful residue or risk to employees or passengers.

Breezy One was co-developed with the City of Albuquerque’s Aviation Department, where it autonomously sanitizes Albuquerque International Sunport’s facilities every night in the ongoing fight against COVID-19. Sunport is the largest commercial airport in New Mexico.

After launching at Sunport earlier this month, Breezy One has proven to be an effective and safe option for sanitizing the entire airport. The robot’s paths, schedules and frequencies can be remotely changed when necessary by the Build with Robots team using Fetch Robotics’ cloud software and base robot.

To ensure the airport is as clean and safe as possible for passengers and employees each day, Breezy One is conducting nightly sanitizing runs. The robot protects custodial staff from tactile exposure to COVID-19 germs and harsh chemicals, and frees them up to focus on providing service and value across the airport rather than spending time on extra sanitization procedures. Right now, the airport has four Breezy Ones deployed for facility-wide disinfection.

“We are pleased to add Breezy One to our team to help keep the entire Sunport community safe. Our custodial staff is one of the best in the nation, and this is a welcomed addition to not only help with our new cleaning and sanitization procedures, but to keep them safe in the process,” says Nyika Allen, director of Aviation for the City of Albuquerque.

“This is one of several measures we’ve put in place to welcome travelers back to the Sunport in a COVID-19 world. We want travelers to know that when they’re ready, we’re ready for them.”

Originally developed by Sandia National Laboratories for mitigation and decontamination of chemical and biological agents, Breezy One’s disinfectant is one of the strongest and most vetted disinfection agents commercially available. Nine government agencies and more than 10 independent laboratories have tested the EPA-registered disinfectant, which is effective against viruses (including the novel coronavirus), bacteria and spores, and meets nationwide hospital requirements for pathogen disinfection.

“Now, more than ever, the top priority for any facility is to ensure the health and safety of employees and customers,” says Melonee Wise, Fetch Robotics CEO.

“Through our work with the Build with Robots team, we were able to move from product conception to commercial deployment in only three months, a timeline that reflects the urgency of the challenge and the world class team responsible for the robot itself.”