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AirportImprovement.com      November | December 2026
FACILITIES 
LAS | SLC
The airport hopes that eventually, one porter could serve 
about 12 gates. 
That progression is significant. In the first phase, a person tells 
a robot where to clean. In the second, sensors describe what 
is happening. In the third, integrated data helps the operation 
determine what needs to happen next and, eventually, may 
dispatch equipment automatically.
Lessons From the Field
The experiences of LAS, SLC and Flagship offer several 
considerations for airport executives evaluating or expanding 
autonomous cleaning.
First, start with the desired outcome. Define the square 
footage, cleaning standard, operating window, labor challenge 
and passenger-experience goal before comparing machines.
Second, test the equipment in the airport where it will operate. 
Flooring, crowds, furniture, gates, connectivity and storage 
differ from facility to facility, and performance in a controlled 
demonstration environment does not guarantee the same result in 
an active terminal.
Third, plan for the infrastructure behind the equipment. 
Charging, water, cleaning solutions, dumping, drainage, Wi-Fi or 
cellular service and technical support all affect performance.
Fourth, treat mapping and training as part of implementation, 
not setup chores. Bring frontline employees into the process 
early. Their feedback helps refine routes, speed, water, pads and 
procedures, and their acceptance often determines whether a unit 
becomes a productive tool or sits unused.
Fifth, determine what to do with the information the technology 
produces. A dashboard alone does not improve an operation. 
Someone needs to review alerts, respond to areas autonomous 
equipment misses and adjust assignments.
Finally, measure the outcomes that matter. The number of 
robots in a fleet may attract attention, but cleaner terminals, 
documented performance, effective use of labor and, ultimately, 
passenger experience, determine return on investment. 
Arnold believes the technology has moved beyond the point 
when airport leaders need to wait and see whether it can perform.
“The equipment works,” he says with extreme confidence.

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