HOW CAN ROBOTS HALT THE SPREAD OF EBOLA?

Professor Robin Murphy proposes nine possible technologies that could help tackle the disease. These include:

Mortuary robots: These would respectfully transport the deceased, because Ebola is most virulent at the time of death, and immediately following death Robot replacements for health

professionals: Robots that could be used in biosafety labs and field hospitals, for tasks such as automated materials handling and remote patient care.

Detection of contamination: Robots that scour vehicles, rooms, buildings and even public spaces for signs of the disease ambulance or house have Ebola.

Disinfection: Robots that open the drawers and doors for the commercially available Little Moe disinfectant robot

Telepresence robots: Experts could use such robots to consult and advise on medical issues, train and supervise worker decontamination, and serve as ‘rolling interpreters’ for the different languages and dialects.

Physical security: Robotic guards to protect workers during riots, as those seen in Sierra Leone.

Waste handling: Robots that transport biowaste from infected sites.

Humanitarian relief: This includes autonomous food trucks and drones that deliver food and medicine.

Reconnaissance: Drones and other types of robots that scour for signs of illness and people fleeing infected regions