Omron Asia-Pacific, a provider of industrial automation solutions across the APAC region, today announced the launch of the UVC-LD robot as their first step into the UVC disinfection market. The robot is a co-creation with Techmetics Robotics, an Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) solutions company for service industries such as hospitality, healthcare and assisted living.
UVC light, which is ultraviolet radiation with wavelengths between 200 and 290 nm, has been proven to be effective in breaking down the pathogens’ DNA and RNA beyond recovery, thus stopping them from replicating.
HOW IT WORKS
Omron LD-UVC navigates autonomously and disinfects premises including the high-touch areas by eliminating 99.90% of bacteria and viruses -both airborne and droplet- by delivering the precise dosage of UVC energy.
Equipped with lasers and Passive Infrared (PIR) Motion Sensors, for obstacle detection & avoidance, the LD UVC robot maneuvers through narrow corridors, elevators, and even automatic doors seamlessly. It also shuts off its UVC light upon human detection, ensuring impeccable safety for human beings.
Suitable for indoor spaces, the robot follows a mapped route, reducing the requirement of manpower resources dedicated for manual cleaning. Features like a bumper, sonar and emergency stop render additional safety. The machine has an automatic charging system and smooth touch interface for control.
According to Omron, the robot can get up and running with a simple software integration and does not require modifications or construction of the premises it is used in.
THE LARGER TREND
A “coronavirus-fighting” robot that uses UVC light and has the ability to work autonomously around public spaces was also recently unveiled in Bahrain, Healthcare IT News reported. The machine was designed by Fab Lab Bahrain – in collaboration with the country’s Ministry of Youth and Sports Innovation Centre.
Austin, Texas-based Diligent Robotics, a maker of an autonomous robot helper for use in the hospital which was founded in 2017, raised $10M in Series A funding in March 2020, according to a MobiHealthNews report.
ON THE RECORD
“Given the utmost significance of sanitization and disinfection in the post COVID-19 era, we believe the robot will yield a great value to organizations who are struggling to find the right, effective, less labor-intensive and long-term solutions to ensure their premises are safe and germ-free.
Driven with the mission to contribute to a better society by identifying social needs, Omron seeks to collaborate with capable & like-minded partners to come up with innovative solutions. Our collaboration with Techmetics Robotics signifies the same,” said Takehito Maeda, Managing Director of Industrial Automation Business, Omron Asia Pacific.
