- The virus, which causes a disease known as COVID-19, has spread to 169 countries, and the majority of infections and deaths are now outside of China.
- As the outbreak spreads, robots are being used to disinfect, take temperatures, and even prepare food.
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How China, the US, and Europe are using robots to replace and help humans fight coronavirus by delivering groceries, sanitizing hospitals, and monitoring patients
The coronavirus outbreak that originated in China has killed more than 17,000 people worldwide and infected more than 398,000, according to recent totals.
2020 03 17T142530Z_1120194708_RC2QLF9GSIHV_RTRMADP_3_HEALTH CORONAVIRUS INDIA ROBOTS.JPG
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Around the world, robots are being used to minimize the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, by taking on cleaning and food preparation jobs that are considered dangerous for humans.
The worldwide death toll of the coronavirus disease that originated in Wuhan, China, is now more than 17,000, and the virus has infected more than 398,000 people. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared it a pandemic. The virus has disrupted travel worldwide, leading to flight cancellation s, quarantines , and other breakdowns in movement and supply chains.
Take a look at some of the clever ways robots are used around the world to slow the spread of the coronavirus and help healthcare workers.
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In Wuhan, where the outbreak started, a robot spraying disinfectant moves through a residential area of the city.
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Volunteers refilled the robot with disinfectant on March 3.
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Workers on scooters control the robot.
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A patrol robot in a Shenyang, China, hospital checks temperatures and disinfects people and spaces.
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These robots are used at hospitals to cut down on demands on medical staff.
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Hangzhou, China, is yet another city using robots to disinfect large areas.
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They're controlled via remote control, and can be seen getting refilled here.
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Hangzhou's disinfecting robots look notably different from those in Wuhan and Shenyang, resembling miniature tanks.
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Another robot disinfectant in Luoyang is remote-controlled and able to climb stairs.
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Anhui, China has a fleet of disinfecting robots ready to start working.
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This hand sanitizer-dispensing robot was photographed in Shanghai on March 4.
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On March 11, robots in the Hunan province in China conduct morning temperature checks.
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Engineers have also modified the robots to record data, give feedback, and even disinfect people's hands.
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Immediate feedback can make the containment process faster and more efficient.
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Robots are being used for more than just disinfecting areas with coronavirus. A hospital in Ezhou has incorporated a robot chef into its kitchen.
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The robot can reportedly produce 100 pots of rice per hour.
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The robot operates without human supervision, which minimizes the number of people in the hospital exposed to the virus.
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Sharing food presents an opportunity to spread the virus, so some cities have been incorporating robots in food service and preparation.
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This robot delivered food to diners in Hangzhou.
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Beijing-based Zhen Robotics says that its yellow robots are in demand to deliver groceries and patrol malls for people not wearing face masks.
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Engineering students at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok modified medical "ninja robots" designed for stroke patients to make them useful with patients who have COVID-19.
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The robots can take patients' temperatures and protect the safety of healthcare workers by reducing interactions with sick people.
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They also have a screen, allowing doctors to video chat with sick patients.
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Postmates delivery robots deliver food in Los Angeles.
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Los Angeles is one of many US cities that closed all non-essential businesses due to COVID-19, and restaurants are allowed to stay open only for takeout and delivery.
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A hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa is using a UV light robot to disinfect the facility.
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The hospital is using UV light instead of hydrogen peroxide, because it cuts cleaning time down from hours to five or ten minutes.
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UV light also poses less danger to healthcare workers than hydrogen peroxide.
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Startup Asimov Robotics launched two robots to spread awareness of the coronavirus in India.
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They distribute face masks and hand sanitizer...
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...along with information about preventing the virus.
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A self-driving Starship robot drops off deliveries in Emerson Valley, Britain.
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The robot goes right to people's door, eliminating the need for contact between people.
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Belgian company ZoraBots made a robot designed for elderly people to communicate with loved ones from the safety of their own homes.
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REUTERS/Yves Herman
The robot has video and audio so people can still talk while sheltering at home, keeping the most vulnerable people socially connected.
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See Also:
- Singapore is using a high-tech surveillance app to track the coronavirus, keeping schools and businesses open. Here's how it works.
- How to make group FaceTime calls with up to 32 people while social distancing due to coronavirus
- These 10 graphs show how iPhone downloads have changed as the coronavirus spreads
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