Robots are playing an important role in combating the coronavirus worldwide, not least in surface disinfection in hospitals. For example, demand for the UVD disinfection robot has risen sharply since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic: Chinese hospitals ordered more than 2,000 UVD robots from Danish manufacturer Blue Ocean Robotics. They were deployed in Wuhan, the origin of the global pandemic. The robots are currently being used in more than 40 countries - in Asia, Europe and North America. Ultraviolet light (UV-C) is used to kill harmful pathogens. The robot has won the IERA Award, an innovation prize awarded jointly by the IEEE and the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).

"With our robots, we are helping to solve one of the biggest problems of our time: containing the spread of viruses and bacteria and thus saving lives," says Claus Risager, CEO of Blue Ocean Robotics. "Demand for the UVD has skyrocketed with the outbreak of COVID-19 infections. Our existing customers are buying significantly more devices than before the crisis, but many new customers are also ordering UVD robots to combat coronaviruses and other harmful microorganisms." The robot is thus continuing its success story. Blue Ocean Robotics has recorded annual sales growth of more than 400% in the last two years.

Robot moves autonomously
The Danish robot moves autonomously through operating theaters and patient rooms and irradiates all critical surfaces with the optimal amount of UV-C light to kill viruses and bacteria. The more intensively the robot irradiates a surface, the more harmful microorganisms are destroyed. 99.99 percent of all viruses and bacteria in a typical patient room are killed within ten minutes.

"The UVD robot supports the cleaning staff in their work," said Claus Risager. For safety reasons, the devices work independently in the rooms and automatically switch off the UV-C light as soon as someone enters the room. The collaborative robot can be used in different rooms - not just in hospitals. The technology also works in offices, shopping centers, schools, airports and production facilities.

"The potential of robots to support us during the current severe coronavirus pandemic is enormous," said Dr. Susanne Bieller, Secretary General of the IFR. "They support us in healthcare, but also in the development, testing and production of medicines, vaccines and other medical devices and aids. Disinfection tasks - such as those carried out by the UVD robot - or the safe distribution of hospital materials in quarantine zones without human contact - which the mobile robot Phollower from Photoneo performs, for example - are just two of many examples." as