A Modern John Henry Case: Window Cleaning Robots vs. Humans

In the early days of skyscraper window cleaning at the turn of the 20th century, workershungout the window anchored by nothing more than a leather belt. These days there are more safety measures in place, but why take the risk when there are robots that can do the job?

The company Sky Prohas four different types of robot window cleaners that range from 4to 12 feet long. They look like a giant Roomba. About100 robots have been sold in 47 countries,including to the Wynn casino in Las Vegas but the tallest building they're used on isonly 30 stories. One World Trade Center climbs to 104 stories.

Also,while window cleaning seems like a dangerous job,nation-wide, only two window cleaners died on the job last year, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Far more truck drivers were killed in the line of duty.

There's also the issue of quality.

"The human arm and the human eye are still very competent in doing this work and actually by the way, it's quite efficient," according toIsrael Berger the Chairman of Vidaris, an architectural consulting agency. Berger would put his money onJohn Henry a human window washer. For him,arobots can't beat a window cleaned by hand with a fresh squeegee. "It may sound silly to describe this in those terms, but it's truly so," he said.

So, it comes down to elbow grease.

Berger saidthe best window cleaners use an old fashioned mix of Joy dish soap, hot water and a dash of ammonia.

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A Modern John Henry Case: Window Cleaning Robots vs. Humans