Reducing physical labor with automation: Dirty laundry removal from aircraft belly bags
After a flight, dirty laundry from the aircraft is placed in large ‘belly bags’ to be sorted and washed. Currently, there are multiple workers that take turns to manually remove the dirty laundry from the bag and place it onto a conveyor belt. The bags are heavy and often require shaking to remove the contents. It is repetitive and tedious work that could be alleviated with automation.
To automate this process, we developed an industrial process that is capable of efficiently discharging the dirty laundry. We made use of a linear actuator and a pneumatic piston connected to a PLC to proof the concept. The actuator holds the bag upside down and shakes it, effectively replicating the task of the manual workers.
“The concept is gold! On to the next project”
Lamme, RoboHouse, TU Delft
+31 (0)15 760 1600
A 12-week laundry adventure led to a prototype that scans the dirty linen in bulk. Join us as we reflect on another RoboHouse success case.
The pressing issues of labor shortage and the physical strain experienced in industrial cleaning have led to a new partnership, focusing on integrating workers and technology through a human-centered approach.
Relieving strain from water pressure recoil during deep cleaning processes
Automation of spical-mite card placing for pest control in greenhouses
Unstranding a high-voltage electricity cable. Or folding Aspidistra leaves to create luxurious bouquets. These and six other challenging cases were tackled by student prototypes during the TU Delft Minor Robotics of 2025-2026.
Preparing milk formula for the NICU. Or carrying your produce autonomously from A to B in the greenhouse system. These and six other challenging cases were tackled by student prototypes during the TU Delft Minor Robotics of 2024-2025.
Robotica ontwikkelt zich snel in de moderne agricultuur. Zo ook in de bloementeelt, waar RoboHouse onlangs met Chrysantencollectief Zentoo samenwerkte aan een uitdaging die schuilt tussen de bloemblaadjes.
Plant-lowering automation that requires agility and dexterity
