The winners of the IERA Award 2019: Wolfram Burgard, President IEEE RAS (left) and Claus Risager, CEO Blue Ocean Robotics (right)

© IEEE RAS

Hospital-acquired infections cause considerable costs in the healthcare system: In the EU, this expenditure adds up to 7 billion euros. Sources of infection can be other patients, staff or even equipment and influences from the hospital environment. The UVD robot moves independently through the rooms and positions itself autonomously in its operating environment. The device treats the surfaces in a hospital ward with light from several angles and at close range. The robot disinfects all contact surfaces and also stops at predefined hotspots that require a longer dwell time. By using the robot, clinics achieve a disinfection rate of 99.99% and thus reduce the risk of patients, staff and visitors becoming infected with dangerous pathogens. The UV disinfection robot is not a replacement for the manual cleaning process - it is designed as a supplementary system and always works in closed rooms. "The UV disinfection robot from Blue Ocean Robotics shows the almost limitless potential of robotics when used in new environments," says Arturo Baroncelli, former President of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), which co-awards the Innovation and Entrepreneur Award in Robotics and Automation (IERA). "The combination of 'classical' mechatronic disciplines - typical of robotics - with the expertise of medicine and pharmacy is a fantastic testament to this path of progress. The IFR is pleased to recognize and support this virtual trend."

"We are very proud to have won the IERA Award 2019 for a groundbreaking product," said Claus Risager, CEO of Blue Ocean Robotics. "Everyone can feel safe in rooms that have been disinfected by the robot. Our UVD robot not only reduces the risk of patients contracting infections in the hospital, but also greatly protects visitors and hospital staff." Blue Ocean Robotics, based in Odense, is a Danish manufacturer of service robots for the healthcare, hospitality, construction and agricultural sectors. The UV disinfection robot is marketed by its subsidiary UVD Robots.

Can also be used in food production

As exposure of people to UV-C light should be avoided, the robot contains a number of safety features: for example, a tablet with a motion sensor is placed at the door of the patient's room. The UV-C light switches off automatically when someone enters the room.

The technology was developed in collaboration with hospitals in Scandinavia. The first sales have been made in the Middle East and Asia. In future, the robot can also be used in other environments that require careful disinfection. These include systems in food production or laboratories.

The IERA Award recognizes collaboration between science and industry in the manufacture of robots and is presented jointly by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) and the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (IEEE/RAS), the world's largest technical professional organization.