8 autonomous robots for disinfecting surfaces
The COVID pandemic showed that autonomous robots can be immediately and uniquely helpful in disinfecting medical environments. In this third part of our ongoing series, we present eight additional systems that are currently being deployed to decontaminate and sanitize surfaces.
Report: Sascha Keutel
ICA Traffic GmbH
The HERO21 disinfection robot is suitable for a wide range of settings such as the healthcare sector, airports, or trade fairs. The user can control the robot via an app to move it through the disinfection area, preventing the operator to have to set foot in the contaminated area.
The multi-level safety system has all scenarios covered: The system recognizes when a person enters the room, or is already present, and switches off the UVC unit. Specially developed door sensors also ensure an automatic shut-down if somebody opens a door. On top of that, it has an emergency OFF switch on the device itself.
ATEAGO Technology Co., Ltd
The Gobot Amy Disinfection Robot has two models with different disinfection methods:
H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) disinfection robot and UVC disinfection robot. The H202 robot is provided with a dry fog space sterilization system with an average diameter of a liquid drop of 10 micrometers.
The Amy-Angeei UVC sterilizing robot has two working modes: air circulating disinfection and sterilization, and UV disinfection and sterilization. The robot can move autonomously for timed, fixed-point, and multi-track mobile disinfection in large areas.
Both systems have a multisensory fusion navigation scheme based on at least three different types of sensors (laser ray/speedometer/gyroscope) that enables it to move autonomously and avoid obstacles - even under low light conditions. It can control the automatic opening and closing of electric doors via the Internet of Things.
Milvus Robotics
Milvus Robotics developed the SEIT-UV disinfection robot specifically to prevent and reduce the spread of infectious diseases, viruses, and germs. Its technology has been clinically tested, and accredited universities, research labs, and hospitals have verified that it kills 99.99% of germs.
The robot features a mapping-based navigation that allows it to be deployed quickly without infrastructure investments or interruption to business operations. The Milvus SEIT-UV AMR for hospital decontamination is equipped the robot with 360°-degree disinfection coverage, software, sensor-based safety features, and Wi-Fi connectivity with an easy-to-use control panel.
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The following seven robotic systems are either currently being deployed or developed for the fight against the coronavirus.
OMRON
OMRON has joined forces with experienced international partners such as ControlTec in Poland, FM Vision and Meridionale Impianti in Italy, Mipelsa in Spain, DoF Robotics in Turkey, and Meanwhile SAS in France, who have installed this UV technology on OMRON's LD mobile robots.
The LD 60/90 autonomous mobile robots are ideal for disinfecting various areas such as hospitals, supermarkets, schools, or restaurants to effectively eliminate viruses and bacteria.
Safety lasers and sonar allow the robots to detect obstacles in their path and prevent collisions. Multiple mobile robots can operate within a facility as a fleet thanks to the company’s fleet management software.
OTSAW Digital Pte Ltd
The O-RX has been successfully lab-tested against live human coronavirus samples, achieving a disinfection efficacy of 99.99% within five minutes, at a range of 2.5 meters. By using UV-C LED light for sanitizing and sterilization, it is 70% more energy-efficient as compared to conventional cleaning robots with mercury lamps.
Capable to be deployed for five hours on one full charge, the O-RX is also equipped with a 360-degree camera and lidar sensors with self-driving, collision avoidance, and AI technologies. The robot is equipped with state-of-the-art heat management and cooling system to help counter the heat that is being emitted from the high-intensity LED modules in the robot.
O-RX has undergone the relevant safety and testing under various conditions and it has been certified by internationally accredited TÜV SÜD.
Skytron
With four robotic models to choose from, Skytron’s UVC solutions offer any hospital or long-term facility to select the product for their specific needs. All robots emit high-intensity ultraviolet light to sanitize patient exam rooms, restrooms, offices, and personal protective equipment.
The devices are proven to kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses, including 99.99 percent of coronaviruses, using UVC energy, which is a wavelength range of UV energy spanning 200 to 280 nanometers.
The devices specifically use the highly germicidal 253.7 nanometers bandwidth to cause photochemical damage to cellular DNA and virus RNA, eliminating its infection capability.
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Surfacide UVC Technology
The Surfacide’s UVC system rapidly decontaminates SARS-CoV-2 colonized surfaces using an automated UV-C technology that data show is effective against multi-drug-resistant organisms including C.diff, MRSA, VRE, CRE, and Acinetobacter.
The Helios system utilizes three emitters to provide UVC energy to more exposed areas with more power and efficacy as compared to single emitter systems. Single emitter systems must be re-positioned throughout the room up to five times. The system does not require any additional re-positioning after room set up, allowing EVS to be productive elsewhere in the hospital.
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
Engineers at USC Viterbi School of Engineering have repurposed a robot they had developed years ago for UV disinfection. Named ADAMMS, for "Agile Dexterous Autonomous Mobile Manipulation Systems," the autonomous robot could open doors and pick up items to carry for people who would otherwise struggle to do so on their own.
By adding an ultraviolet wand and robotic arm, the researchers found that the robot could also handle cleanup, sanitizing surfaces like a deep cupboard with (almost) a wave of the wand from its new arm with six joints.
The person controlling the robot will receive the scan as a 3D image and then can click on a few objects to prompt the robot to plan a trajectory that would cover those objects and areas, and then sanitize them.
