Picture of the week: Heathrow names cleaning robots in nationwide vote with British humour

London Heathrow Airport (LHR) has revealed the official names of its fleet of autonomous cleaning robots, following a nationwide competition that attracted thousands of creative submissions.

The initiative saw passengers and members of the public invited to name the airport’s 24 cleaning cobots, resulting in a final list that blends pop culture references, aviation puns and classic British humour. The newly named robots have now been reintroduced across Heathrow’s terminals, each displaying custom name tags.

Among the selected names are Fleetwood Vac, Meryl Sweep, Scrubrina Carpenter and Bruce Spingclean, alongside aviation themed entries such as Air Floorce One and Boeing 7 Floor 7. Other winning names include RoboMop, R2 T2, Cleany McClean Face and Obi Wan Cleanobi, reflecting a mix of film, music and light hearted wordplay.

Airport Robotics 

The competition was launched to celebrate the role of the airport’s robotic cleaning fleet, which has become a familiar presence for both passengers and staff. With increased passenger volumes expected over peak travel periods such as Easter, travellers are encouraged to spot the robots as they operate across terminals.

Each autonomous unit is capable of cleaning up to 4,800 square metres per day using advanced mapping technology and water recycling systems. The robots can operate continuously for up to three hours before returning to their docking stations to recharge.

Daniel Edwards, Director of Airport Journeys at Heathrow, said the naming initiative highlights the creativity of the travelling public while enhancing the overall passenger experience.

The robots were introduced in partnership with facilities management company Mitie and form part of Heathrow’s broader strategy to integrate automation and smart technologies into airport operations.

Supported by a workforce of more than 850 cleaning and hygiene specialists, the cobots help maintain high standards of cleanliness while improving operational efficiency across one of the world’s busiest airports.

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