Varsity to deploy disinfectant robots

PETALING JAYA: A number of universities have come up with needed items that can be offered to the frontliners fighting Covid-19.

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) will launch five disinfectant robots next week to help the fight.

The first phase will be tested within its campus grounds, such as lecture halls, residential colleges and high-risk areas, said UPM Robotic Club adviser Prof Dr Wan Zuha Wan Hasan.

High-tech solution: Prof Wan Zuha operating a robot prototype.

“Once we have tested it within our campus grounds, we will open up offers to public hospitals and healthcare providers to utilise these robots, ” said Prof Wan Zuha, who also heads the task force that built the robots.

It took the task force consisting of seven people two weeks to complete the robots.

The offer will depend on the demand and donations they receive, as the team is currently facing budget constraints to develop the robots further.

The robots, he said, would be necessary for the use of various units in hospitals’ Emergency Response Team.

“These robots are modified from existing ones which were used at an inter-university robot competition in September 2019.

“The modification involves the addition of a disinfectant system installed in the robots, ” said Faculty of Engineering dean Prof Dr Nor Kamariah Nordin.

While acquiring equipment during the movement control order has been difficult for the team, Prof Kamariah said they would design a disinfectant system with existing equipment in their laboratory and by purchasing essential equipment online.

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) is creating 3D-printed face shields to provide additional protection for medical frontliners.

The face shields are created by four engineering students through a startup they started in the university’s Unovate Centre, called Kon10 Innovations.

“We felt we needed to do something for the medical staff and enforcement officers who are out there battling Covid-19.

“We thought of contributing by providing simpler designs with shorter printing time and more adaptations to accommodate the sponge feature on the face shield, ” team members said.

“We can produce approximately 150 pieces within a day, ” said team leader Lim Kai Wen.

He said it took it 22 minutes to print and less than 30 seconds to assemble the face shield.

“The face shields are distributed to health clinics, Kuala Kubu Baru Hospital, Manipal Hospital Klang and others.”