Heathrow names cleaning robots in passenger vote to enhance business travel experience

Heathrow has unveiled the winning names for its fleet of 24 autonomous cleaning robots following a nationwide competition that drew thousands of entries, bringing a touch of British humour to one of the UK’s busiest business travel hubs.

For UK-based business travellers, this light-hearted initiative highlights Heathrow’s continued focus on enhancing the passenger experience, even in small but visible ways, at a time when airport environments and efficiency remain central to smooth and productive business travel.

The month-long competition invited the public to name Heathrow’s fleet of autonomous “cobots”, which have become a familiar presence across the airport’s terminals. The result is a collection of names inspired by pop culture, aviation and classic British wit, including Boeing 7 Floor 7, Air Floorce One, R2-T2 and Cleany McClean Face. Music and film references proved particularly popular, with entries such as Scrubrina Carpenter, Bruce Springclean, Fleetwood Vac and Meryl Sweep among those selected.

Heathrow’s Director of Airport Journeys, Daniel Edwards, said

“With the reveal of our cleaning robots' new names, we are proud to see classic British humour shine through. We look forward to seeing the nation’s creativity bring smiles to passengers from all over the world, particularly as we approach the peak travel season.”

The newly named robots have now been reintroduced across all terminals, each displaying its custom name tag. Travellers passing through the airport, particularly during the busy Easter period, may spot characters such as Obi-Wan Cleanobi, Moptimus Prime, Doctor Who-ver and Mary Moppins as they carry out their duties.

Beyond their playful names, the cobots represent a significant operational enhancement. Each robot can clean up to 4,800 square metres per day using advanced mapping technology and water-recycling systems, and can operate for up to three hours before returning to recharge. This supports Heathrow’s broader commitment to maintaining high standards of cleanliness and efficiency across its terminals.

The 24 winning names are:  

• Boeing 7 Floor 7 

• Cleany McClean Face 

• Sweep Caroline 

• Lightning McClean 

• R2-T2 

• Air Floorce One 

• RoboMop 

• Sir Scrubs-A-Lot 

• Meryl Sweep 

• Obi-Wan Cleanobi 

• Clean me up Scotty 

• Scrubrina Carpenter 

• Fleetwood Vac 

• The Mopfather 

• Mary Moppins 

• Dust Vader 

• Sweeping Beauty 

• Dancing Clean 

• Moptimus Prime 

• Tidy Heidi 

• Scrubbin' Hood 

• Doctor Who-ver 

• Bruce Springclean 

• Clean Latifah 

The initiative forms part of Heathrow’s ongoing partnership with facilities management company Mitie, which has delivered cleaning services at the airport since 2022. The cobots are part of the UK’s largest fleet of autonomous cleaning robots, working alongside 850 cleaning and hygiene specialists across Heathrow.

Heathrow remains the UK’s international gateway and one of the most connected airports globally, serving over 230 destinations across 85 countries. With more than 200,000 passengers travelling through the airport each day, maintaining a clean, efficient and welcoming environment is essential for both leisure and business travel.

Paul Baker, Sales Director of Global Travel Management, said

“While this is a fun and engaging initiative, it also reflects Heathrow’s wider commitment to improving the passenger experience, which is crucial for business travel where efficiency, comfort and reliability all contribute to a more productive journey.”

As airports continue to invest in technology and passenger experience, business travellers can expect incremental improvements that make journeys smoother and more enjoyable, even in the busiest travel periods.

For more information on how developments at Heathrow may impact your business travel programme, please contact your Global Travel Management Account Manager.