Author: Möbelfertigung

Robots play an important role in fighting the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 around the globe. Disinfection robot UVD for example has been in high demand since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Chinese hospitals have ordered more than 2,000 UVD robots by Danish manufacturer Blue Ocean Robotics. They started to destroy viruses in Wuhan, where the global pandemic began. The units operate in more than 40 countries – in Asia, Europe and the United States. UVD uses ultraviolet light (UV-C) to kill harmful microorganisms. The robot is the current holder of the IERA innovation award by IEEE and the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).

“We are now helping solve one of the biggest problems of our time, preventing the spread of viruses and bacteria with a robot that saves lives,” says Claus Risager, CEO of Blue Ocean Robotics. “The immediate demand has increased a lot with the outbreak of COVID-19. Existing customers buy many more units than before, and many new customers are ordering the UVD robots to fight coronavirus and other harmful microorganisms.” This is an ongoing success story for the IERA award winning robot. Blue Ocean Robotics has seen a growth in sales of more than 400 percent annually over the last two years.

The Danish robot moves autonomously around patient rooms and operating theatres – covering all critical surfaces with the right amount of UV-C light in order to kill specific viruses and bacteria. The more light the robot exposes to a surface, the more harmful microorganisms are destroyed. In a typical patient room, 99.99 % of all viruses and bacteria are killed within 10 minutes.

“UVD is a supplementary device which assists the cleaning staff,” said Claus Risager. For safety reasons, it works on its own and automatically disengages the UV-C light if someone enters the room. The collaborative robot can be used in various enclosed spaces – not only in hospitals. The technology also works in environments such as office spaces, shopping malls, schools, airports and production facilities.

“Robots have a great potential of supporting us in the current severe corona pandemic,” said Dr Susanne Bieller, General Secretary of the International Federation of Robotics.
“They can support us in healthcare environments, but also in the development, testing and production of medicine, vaccines and other medical devices and auxiliaries. Disinfection tasks performed e.g. by UVD units or safe distribution of hospital material in quarantine zones – without personal contact – provided e.g. by Photoneo´s mobile robot Phollower, are just two of many examples.”

By now, medical robots represent a well-established service robot market with a considerable growth potential. Sales of medical robots increased by 50% to 5,100 units in 2018. This is according to the statistics published in World Robotics by IFR.

Here you can see the UVD robot at work: https://vimeo.com/291756170
Watch “Phollower” at work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIckNx_Otq0&feature=youtu.be

The Executive Board of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) elected Milton Guerry of Schunk USA as new President. Klaus Koenig of Kuka Robotics has been appointed as IFR´s new Vice President.

“I feel very honored to serve as new IFR President and look forward to a successful collaboration with Klaus Koenig and our IFR members,” says Milton Guerry. He held the position of IFR Vice President since December 2019. Milton succeeds Steven Wyatt (ABB, Switzerland), who is leaving ABB. Steven held the rotating post of President since December 2019 and prior to that served on a two-year term as IFR´s Vice President.

Milton Guerry thanked Steven Wyatt for his many years of successful work for the International Federation of Robotics: “Steven did a wonderful job to support the world of robotics. He inspired the robotics industry and their stakeholders, such as the representatives of national robotics associations from all over the globe, delegates of robot manufacturers and research institutes as well as the media. We will continue his mission to further improve the understanding of the rapidly changing world of robotics and automation.”

Milton Guerry heads the Schunk USA team as its President based in Morrisville, North Carolina. He joined Schunk in 2000 and has held various leadership roles, assuming his current role as President in 2007. Milton is a member of the Robotic Industries Association’s (RIA) Board of Directors. He began his career in the automotive industry in a number of engineering and technical functions.

Klaus Koenig serves as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kuka´s Robotics division based in Augsburg, Germany. He joined Kuka AG in July 2017 as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Before, he had held various leadership positions in the German automotive industry. During his career he also took on international jobs, with multi-year assignments operating out of Canada and Italy. Klaus holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the University RWTH in Aachen, Germany.