The pandemic has significantly affected our daily lives worldwide, and we want to lend our resources and expertise to the fight against COVID-19 and other viruses. That is why we have partnered with IEEE Region 3 and the Office of Undergraduate Research to design and produce a robot that can sanitize high-contact surfaces.
The robot works using Ultraviolet Type-C (UVC) radiation, which affects the DNA and RNA of viruses and bacteria to render them harmless. We will be able to disinfect all of the surfaces in a room in mere minutes as the robot autonomously traverses the room using sensor data and a navigation algorithm. The robot’s mechanical design will allow it to maneuver around tight spaces to ensure that no surface is left behind!
A multidisciplinary project like this requires a diverse team of researchers in computer science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, power, physics, and biomedical science.
The project’s scheduled completion date is Spring 2023, at which point the robot will be donated for use in the UCF Health Services Clinic on the university’s campus!