Robots are ideal candidates for taking on the mundane and dangerous tasks of life and are being developed to do so in everything from floor cleaning to driving. Now, during a time that is more dangerous for humans than ever, companies are sending their technology to assist on the front lines.

 

With the coronavirus and any large-scale outbreak of infection, containment and treatment are two main objectives. In the case of the coronavirus, the virus can remain airborne and active on contaminated surfaces for a given amount of time. For containment to be successful, human contact must be reduced and areas must be disinfected as much as possible. However, because there is a call for less person-to-person contact, high-priority tasks such as cleaning, testing of the sick, and treatment of those hospitalized become difficult. This is where robotic helpers come in.

In China, where the novel coronavirus first originated in December 2019, robots are playing crucial parts in fighting the virus. These robots are sterilizing areas, assisting with testing, and more. Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway has an autonomous cleaning robot navigating subway cars. It sprays a hydrogen peroxide disinfectant to reach spots difficult to clean by hand. Hong Kong has millions of residents, and regular deep cleanings like this are a pivotal need to keep the high-trafficked cars clean. Another robot is used to patrol hallways, ready to dispense hand sanitizer to people in need. Other robots have been developed to check a person’s temperature and provide immediate feedback, helping to identify those who may be sick.