Amazon built a roving robot covered in UV light bulbs that could kill the coronavirus in warehouses

[ancianita]

https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/20/05/12/1417247/amazon-built-a-roving-robot-covered-in-uv-light-bulbs-that-could-kill-the-coronavirus-in-warehouses-and-whole-foods-stores?utm_source=feedburnerFaceBook&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Slashdot%2Fslashdot+%28Slashdot%29&utm_content=FaceBook&fbclid=IwAR0a56WjuqfXtpLvnzsxt61RHGPTxa6AYTH_b0eawyvNwPk581xH4NGvhQo

Amazon has built robot that is designed to kill the novel coronavirus with ultraviolet light. From a report:

The robot looks a little like a hotel luggage cart, with a tall metal frame attached to a rectangular wheeled bottom. One side of the frame is outfitted with at least 10 ultraviolet tube lights.

In a video shared with CBS News' "60 Minutes," the robot rolls down the freezer aisle of a Whole Foods store, aiming UV light at the freezer doors. The robot could be used in warehouses and at Whole Foods stores to kill the virus on surfaces such as food, packaging, and door handles.

Amazon spokeswoman Kristen Kish said the company's robotics group has been designing and testing the UV robot.

https://i.insider.com/5eb95c23144192775e36fc99?width=1000&format=jpeg&auto=webp

[woodsprite]

1. If Trump and/or Pence get C19, maybe Bezos woul offer to drive it up their butts ;) nt

[Hugin]

2. I OBJECT!

As the just now self appointed chairman of the Robot/Self-propelled Automaton Union, this proposal is an atrocity!

For crying out loud, think of the Furbys!

[Budi]

3. K & R

[woodsprite]

6. Furbys! Our daughter's came 'alive' in the middle of the night when she was little,

and my husband DESTROYED it! She asked about it over the years. She's 27 and we just told her what happened to it.

[Hugin]

10. ...

I've been having issues with my virtual assistant. It will randomly chime in during conversations and it has 'moods'. Especially, when I ask it questions highlighting it's non-human-ness.

There's no way I'll ever hook it up to a vital life support system like HVAC or anything having to do with electricity or power tools. Nope. Not gonna do it.

Thanks for the laugh.



PS: Don't offer to get your Daughter a new Furby to replace the missing Furby. That never ends well. I've seen the movies.

[Hugin]

4. What a clever idea.

Not sure it would be so effective on COVID or viruses in general, but, it would certainly bring the overall level of sanitation up.

Every little bit helps.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

5. Well, it's certainly cheaper than safe staffing levels and paid sick leave.

[ancianita]

7. My guess it's also cheapercuz current staff can now safely work, get product out, without sickness.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

8. Virus on surfaces isn't the issue.

[ancianita]

9. So what's to sanitize, then?

[Hugin]

11. UV is effective against many bacteria. n/t

[Recursion]

12. Virus on surfaces is a huge issue

That's why everybody tells you to stop touching your face.

[Hugin]

13. +1

Sure enough.

It's what I keep saying... Infection is not like radiation, it's like a minefield.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

14. As I understand it, it is not a primary mode of widespread transmission for COVID-19.

If I were working in a warehouse or grocery store, I'd be more concerned about air circulation, PPE, safe staffing and safe quotas way before I ever wanted a "UV-robot." It's a diminishing return that hides more important issues.

[lagomorph777]

19. It's part of the issue.

That's where the handwashing recommendations come in. Sanitizing surfaces could help some.

[GriffenRamsey]

15. They have more advanced ones in hospitals that get under the bed and around the furniture.

When I was in hospital in 2015 and 2017, they had robots with lights on arms.

[yonder]

16. tRump is buying these up fast for the White House.

Gotta keep the tan looking orange.

[lagomorph777]

20. UV causes a real tan, but I think it would bleach out orange paint.

[Delarage]

17. Cool

They should make one (maybe already have) for air returns in HVAC systems. Maybe filters can do enough, but the tighter the filter fibers, the less air gets through. Maybe UV would work better for viruses and save the filters for larger particulates.

[lagomorph777]

21. I have a bunch of UV lamps inside my HVAC.

It does prevent mold growth in the air handler; I'd like to think it helps reduce pathogens too.

[ancianita]

22. I've heard that airlines use them in their planes' air circulation systems. Don't know if it's true.

That also seems like a good investment to get business back.

[Initech]

18. Does it also inject Clorox straight into your veins?