How does SoftBank Whiz navigate?

Whiz uses teach-and-repeat navigation powered by Brain Corp's BrainOS. A human operator walks the cleaning route once while the robot records the path and sensor data. The robot then repeats that demonstrated route autonomously during scheduled cleaning sessions. Whiz uses BrainOS obstacle detection to pause for unexpected obstacles and resume when the path is clear.

Is SoftBank Whiz fully autonomous?

Whiz is autonomous during route execution: it navigates, avoids obstacles, and completes the cleaning run without a human operator steering it. However, the route must be demonstrated by a human first. Whiz cannot explore a new facility independently and build its own cleaning plan. The distinction between teach-and-repeat automation and free-roaming SLAM autonomy is a verified depth difference, not a marketing framing.

Who makes SoftBank Whiz?

SoftBank Robotics, a Japanese company backed by SoftBank Group, manufactures the Whiz hardware. Brain Corp (San Diego) provides the BrainOS software platform that enables Whiz's autonomous navigation. SoftBank Group holds an equity position in both SoftBank Robotics and Brain Corp.

What is the difference between Whiz and Tennant T16AMR?

Both use Brain Corp BrainOS, but in different modes. Whiz uses teach-and-repeat navigation: a human demonstrates the route first. Tennant T16AMR uses full-SLAM navigation: the robot builds its own facility map. Whiz is a corridor vacuum for carpeted surfaces; T16AMR is a floor scrubber for large hard-floor spaces. The T16AMR represents a higher verified autonomy depth.

Where is SoftBank Whiz deployed?

Whiz is deployed in offices, hotels, airports, and commercial buildings across Japan, the United States, and internationally. SoftBank Robotics markets Whiz under robot-as-a-service arrangements in many markets. Specific customer-of-record deployments are documented at company-disclosed depth.

Does SoftBank Whiz work on carpet and hard floors?

Whiz is primarily designed for carpeted corridor vacuuming. It is a vacuum robot, not a floor scrubber. For hard-floor scrubbing in commercial settings, BrainOS-powered alternatives like the Tennant T16AMR are the appropriate product tier, as are own-stack options like Avidbots Neo and Gausium Phantas.

Explainers Commercial cleaning robots

What is SoftBank Robotics Whiz and how does it clean?

SoftBank Robotics Whiz is a commercial autonomous corridor vacuum powered by Brain Corp's BrainOS in teach-and-repeat mode. A human operator walks the cleaning route once; the robot then repeats that demonstrated path autonomously. Whiz is not a free-roaming SLAM robot. SoftBank Robotics is a Japanese company backed by SoftBank Group.

What SoftBank Robotics Whiz is

SoftBank Robotics Whiz is a commercial autonomous vacuum robot designed for corridor and open-floor vacuuming in offices, hotels, airports, and commercial buildings. It is manufactured by SoftBank Robotics and uses Brain Corp's BrainOS software platform for autonomy. SoftBank Robotics is a Japanese company backed by SoftBank Group; SoftBank Group also holds a significant equity position in Brain Corp, making the two companies part of the same corporate family.

Whiz is one of the two largest commercial BrainOS deployments, alongside Tennant Company's autonomous floor scrubbers.

Teach-and-repeat: how Whiz operates

Whiz operates in teach-and-repeat mode, which is structurally distinct from full-SLAM navigation. On first deployment in a new facility, a human operator walks the desired cleaning route while the robot follows along and records the path, sensor readings, and spatial data. After the demonstration run, Whiz can repeat that route autonomously during scheduled cleaning sessions.

This operational model has two important implications. First, Whiz cannot map a novel facility independently and select its own coverage path; the robot follows demonstrated routes. Second, if the facility layout changes significantly (furniture rearranged, new obstacles introduced), the demonstrated route may need to be re-walked. Whiz uses BrainOS obstacle detection to pause when it encounters unexpected obstacles in the path and resume when the obstacle clears.

The verified-vs-claimed framework distinguishes teach-and-repeat from free-roaming SLAM autonomy. Both are legitimate commercial automation tools; the distinction matters for evaluating which deployment contexts each is suited to and what happens when the operating environment changes.

Commercial deployment

Whiz is deployed in offices, hotels, airports, and commercial buildings across multiple countries. SoftBank Robotics markets Whiz on a robot-as-a-service model in many regions. SoftBank Robotics has also made Pepper (the humanoid social robot) and NAO (the educational humanoid); Whiz is the company's commercial cleaning product.

Documented deployment environments include major Japanese corporations and international corporate offices. SoftBank Robotics reports deployment numbers at company-disclosed depth.

Comparison within the BrainOS ecosystem

Whiz (teach-and-repeat, corridor vacuum) and Tennant T16AMR (full-SLAM, floor scrubber) are both BrainOS-powered but represent different autonomy depths. The T16AMR builds its own facility map; Whiz follows demonstrated paths. The cleaning tasks also differ: Whiz vacuums carpeted corridors; the T16AMR scrubs hard floors in large commercial spaces.

Framework cross-links

For the Brain Corp BrainOS platform context, see what is Brain Corp BrainOS. For the commercial cleaning cohort umbrella, see what are commercial cleaning robots. For the autonomy-depth distinction applied to cleaning robots, see how DEPLOY verifies capability. The SoftBank Robotics registry entry at registry.deploy.report/companies/softbank-robotics carries institutional depth.

Frequently asked questions

How does SoftBank Whiz navigate?: Whiz uses teach-and-repeat navigation powered by Brain Corp's BrainOS. A human operator walks the cleaning route once while the robot records the path and sensor data. The robot then repeats that demonstrated route autonomously during scheduled cleaning sessions. Whiz uses BrainOS obstacle detection to pause for unexpected obstacles and resume when the path is clear.
Is SoftBank Whiz fully autonomous?: Whiz is autonomous during route execution: it navigates, avoids obstacles, and completes the cleaning run without a human operator steering it. However, the route must be demonstrated by a human first. Whiz cannot explore a new facility independently and build its own cleaning plan. The distinction between teach-and-repeat automation and free-roaming SLAM autonomy is a verified depth difference, not a marketing framing.
Who makes SoftBank Whiz?: SoftBank Robotics, a Japanese company backed by SoftBank Group, manufactures the Whiz hardware. Brain Corp (San Diego) provides the BrainOS software platform that enables Whiz's autonomous navigation. SoftBank Group holds an equity position in both SoftBank Robotics and Brain Corp.
What is the difference between Whiz and Tennant T16AMR?: Both use Brain Corp BrainOS, but in different modes. Whiz uses teach-and-repeat navigation: a human demonstrates the route first. Tennant T16AMR uses full-SLAM navigation: the robot builds its own facility map. Whiz is a corridor vacuum for carpeted surfaces; T16AMR is a floor scrubber for large hard-floor spaces. The T16AMR represents a higher verified autonomy depth.
Where is SoftBank Whiz deployed?: Whiz is deployed in offices, hotels, airports, and commercial buildings across Japan, the United States, and internationally. SoftBank Robotics markets Whiz under robot-as-a-service arrangements in many markets. Specific customer-of-record deployments are documented at company-disclosed depth.
Does SoftBank Whiz work on carpet and hard floors?: Whiz is primarily designed for carpeted corridor vacuuming. It is a vacuum robot, not a floor scrubber. For hard-floor scrubbing in commercial settings, BrainOS-powered alternatives like the Tennant T16AMR are the appropriate product tier, as are own-stack options like Avidbots Neo and Gausium Phantas.

SoftBank Robotics as Japan-based maker and SoftBank Group backing verified at company disclosure depth. BrainOS teach-and-repeat mode (vs Tennant full-SLAM) verified at Brain Corp and SoftBank Robotics product-documentation depth. Deployment environments (offices, hotels, airports) verified at company marketing and case-study disclosure depth. Customer-of-record specifics at company-disclosed depth. How DEPLOY verifies →

More in commercial cleaning robots

View all 8 explainers in commercial cleaning robots →

← All explainers