Automated Ultraviolet C Light Mobile Robot for Room Sterilization and Disinfection

Abstract

The number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia has increased significantly of late. Therefore, isolation rooms are needed in hospitals for patient treatment. Room sterilization and disinfection are strictly required as it is mandatory to protect the medical personnel. Chemical and physical methods can be used for sterilization and disinfection. Of these, the ultraviolet C (UVC) light method is the best because it has no residual. Even though UVC light is hazardous for humans’ skin and eyes, such hazard can be avoided by eliminating human operators during usage. Thus, we developed a mobile robot with a UVC light system installed at the top and bottom to emit UVC light. We called this robot the Automated UVC Light Mobile Robot (AUMR). The AUMR can be operated automatically as it has a magnetic line sensor and employs a fuzzy inference system algorithm for its movement. The experiment showed that UVC light has good sterilization and disinfection performance in three room types: positive-pressure rooms, negative-pressure rooms, and standard public rooms.