Glossary
Professional floor scrubbing robot: the glossary of key terms
Factual, sourced definitions for the technical vocabulary of professional robotic floor cleaning: navigation, throughput, runtime, compliance and ROI. Each term links to the page that covers it in more depth.
Version française- Autoscrubber #
- An autoscrubber is a floor-cleaning machine that combines washing and vacuuming in a single pass. In its classic form, it is pushed or driven by an operator. Its robotic version, the autonomous floor scrubber, moves on its own using 3D perception, like the Keenon C40.
- Professional cleaning robot #
- A professional cleaning robot is an autonomous autoscrubber designed for industrial and commercial sites. It follows programmed routes while the cleaning team retains zone preparation, manual rework and outcome checks. The Keenon C40 combines sweeping, vacuuming, scrubbing and drying.
- Autonomous floor scrubber #
- Synonymous with professional cleaning robot or robotic autoscrubber: a machine that cleans floors without continuous human intervention, navigating on its own using 3D perception and a route mapped out during installation. See the Keenon C40 specification sheet for a concrete example.
- 3D perception #
- 3D perception refers to sensors that help a robot map its environment, detect fixed and moving obstacles and locate itself. The Keenon C40 combines LiDAR, vision and other sensors. Data handling depends on the functions and tools enabled for the delivered configuration.
- LiDAR #
- LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a sensor that measures distances by emitting laser pulses, used alongside cameras for a floor scrubbing robot's 3D perception. It detects obstacles and people regardless of lighting conditions, which is useful for deployment in underground car parks or dimly lit warehouses.
- Coverage (m²/h) #
- Coverage in m²/h is a theoretical hourly area. Keenon states up to 1,100 m²/h for the C40. Manoeuvres, obstacles, stops and refills reduce site performance, so the simulator uses this figure only as a minimum-time boundary.
- Runtime #
- Runtime is how long a floor scrubbing robot can operate on battery before recharging. It varies by mode: on the Keenon C40, runtime reaches up to 5 hours in scrubbing mode and up to 12 hours in sweeping-only mode, with a full recharge in 2 hours.
- Scrubbing #
- Scrubbing is the mechanical washing of the floor: brushing combined with water dispensed from the clean water tank, followed by vacuuming of the dirty water. It is typically the most energy- and water-intensive mode on a floor scrubbing robot, and therefore usually the one that determines the shortest runtime.
- Sweeping #
- Sweeping covers dry pickup of dust and solid debris, without water, generally via side brushes and a dust bag. On a 4-in-1 robot like the Keenon C40, sweeping combines with or alternates with scrubbing depending on the floor condition being addressed.
- Vacuuming #
- Vacuuming refers to the function that collects dirty water after the scrubbing squeegee has passed (into the dirty water tank), or fine dust in dry mode. It is one of the four combined functions of the Keenon C40, alongside sweeping, scrubbing and dust mopping.
- Clean / dirty water tank #
- A floor scrubbing robot carries two separate tanks: one for the clean water used during scrubbing, and one for the dirty water recovered by vacuuming after the squeegee pass. Their capacity determines the real runtime before a tank swap: the Keenon C40 carries 16 litres of clean water and 14 litres of dirty water.
- Payback / ROI #
- Payback is the time required for measured gains to offset investment and operating costs. It depends on hours actually redeployed, measured site throughput, consumables and maintenance. The simulator prepares the assumptions; the full result follows a site study.
- Loaded labour cost #
- Loaded labour cost is the employee cost to the business: gross salary plus employer contributions and social charges. The pre-study simulator uses it to display current manual cost and the gross value of the hours the user considers automatable; it does not calculate complete payback.
- HACCP (food processing) #
- HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) is a food-safety risk management method that requires documented traceability of cleaning in sensitive areas. In food processing, a floor scrubbing robot works alongside HACCP protocols, mainly on circulation and storage areas.
- Robot data and network flows #
- Robot data handling depends on the sensors, enabled functions, network access and management tools used. Location and retention should not be assumed: request the technical and contractual documents for the delivered configuration before connecting it to the site.
- Distribution partner #
- A distribution partner commercialises and supports the deployment of a brand's products in its market. Robot Laveuse Pro operates through Robonex SAS, a Keenon distribution partner in France, with stock held in Europe and European technical support engineered by our French team.
Frequently asked questions
The glossary in practice
What is the difference between a classic autoscrubber and a professional cleaning robot?
A classic autoscrubber is pushed or driven by an operator. A professional cleaning robot moves on its own, without a driver, using 3D perception. See the professional cleaning robot entry and the Keenon C40 specification sheet.
What determines a floor scrubbing robot's coverage (m²/h)?
Coverage depends on sweeping and scrubbing width, travel speed and the mode used (sweeping only or full scrubbing). See the coverage (m²/h) entry and the ROI calculator to estimate the impact on your site.
Is the data captured by the robot's LiDAR and cameras sent externally?
It depends on the delivered configuration and enabled tools. Inventory network access, any remote flows, accounts, exports and retention before deployment. See the robot data and network flows entry.
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