How AI and Robots Participate in the Fight Against COVID-19
2020-3-25
In a world plagued by infectious diseases, pandemics represent the worst-case scenario. Although the world is currently engaged in a “war” against the COVID-19 virus, this is not the first time humanity has faced such an “invisible enemy.” Historical records indicate that the first pandemic occurred around 430 BC during the Peloponnesian War, where a plague, possibly typhoid, reportedly killed nearly half of Athens’ population and a quarter of its soldiers, nearly destroying the Greek city-states. At that time, little was known about how to treat the symptoms of this disease until around 27 BC when the Romans established a military medical system to help soldiers recover quickly and return to battle. According to an article by Valentine John Belfiglio, the Roman army was the first in history to incorporate battlefield physicians, field hospitals, and triage into its ranks. The medical system they established on the battlefield effectively controlled the pandemic through cleanliness, hygiene, and real-time medical assistance. Since then, technology has continuously advanced, and the world has developed more effective technologies and capabilities to respond to outbreaks, especially during the global plague of 1347. During that time, physicians attempted to treat infected individuals with onions, herbs, or even snake flesh, and employed other special treatments, such as drinking metals or minerals like arsenic or mercury, and wearing cone-shaped masks with various flowers and herbs to avoid inhaling the diseases of infected patients. Today, we are fortunate to live in a modern world equipped with powerful protective technologies capable of addressing deadly pandemic outbreaks, including healthcare professionals who have access to the latest medical technologies to mitigate the severe pandemic currently raging worldwide. This article will introduce some key technologies currently being used to overcome the pandemic and how these technologies are employed to prevent the spread of the virus or treat confirmed infected patients.
At the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, frontline physicians utilized robots to assist confirmed pneumonia virus patients. Pudu Technology Co., Ltd. has deployed autonomous service delivery robots in local hospitals to deliver cooked food and medications to quarantined patients. On February 17, Candela Technology and Zhongtai En Industrial jointly donated several epidemic prevention medical robots to the Southern Medical University Shenzhen Hospital, with a total value of 2 million yuan. The Candela medical robot integrates the leading autonomous driving technology in the country, featuring a unique modular design that allows for the expansion of medical delivery and disinfection functions based on specific scenarios, achieving multifunctionality. The robots can autonomously recognize their environment, avoid obstacles, and operate elevators. When equipped with disinfection boxes, the robots can perform comprehensive disinfection in high-frequency activity areas such as hospitals, patients, healthcare workers, and medical waste without human intervention.
Shanghai TMiROB’s titanium alloy smart disinfection robots have also entered medical institutions to assist in eliminating viruses in the air and on the surfaces of isolation wards. These robots are equipped with UV lighting, ultra-dry mist hydrogen peroxide, and air filters to handle blood, bodily fluids, and waste, helping to suppress the spread of the coronavirus.
Pudu Technology’s smart delivery robots provide contactless meal and medication delivery services.
Engineers from Xi’an Jiaotong University collaborated with robot manufacturer Youibot and local police to deploy 5G-driven temperature monitoring robots in large shopping centers and other densely populated areas. These robots use thermal imaging cameras and various sensors to measure the temperature of up to 10 people at once. They are also equipped with facial recognition systems that notify local authorities for coronavirus screening when a person with a high temperature is detected.
After the emergence of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States, doctors in Washington State also began using robots. Healthcare professionals deployed the Vici telemedicine terminal produced by InTouch Health, a California-based company, allowing physicians to remotely diagnose patients using pan/tilt/zoom cameras, large displays, microphones, and speakers, thereby protecting healthcare workers from infection.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is another high-tech tool used to combat the novel coronavirus, such as the temperature monitoring robots deployed in crowded areas alongside Youibot. Companies like Baidu and SenseTime are adjusting their facial recognition algorithms to identify individuals not wearing protective masks in public. SenseTime’s Smart A.I. epidemic prevention solution system can collect data from camera systems and temperature sensors to identify individuals who may be infected with the virus.
With most Chinese cities deploying surveillance cameras and the recent widespread use of temperature sensing robots, AI platforms help mitigate or delay the spread of the coronavirus. According to SenseTime, the “SenseCare Smart Health Platform” has been implemented in several hospitals. This platform uses image processing technology to assist doctors in analyzing images of suspected pneumonia cases and assessing the degree of lung abnormalities, thereby improving diagnostic efficiency. SenseTime also shares its expertise in AI technology and research experience in pharmacology and genetic analysis to support medical institutions and research laboratories in developing treatments for the coronavirus.
Alibaba and Tencent have developed a color-coded health tracking system to monitor coronavirus patients nationwide. The Chinese government uses this system to assign different colored QR codes to indicate whether an individual is a confirmed patient or at risk of infection and needs to self-isolate quickly. This system has been piloted in Hangzhou, with millions of users able to download it through Alibaba’s Alipay app. Only individuals with a green code (health code) are qualified to move freely in public places, while those with yellow or red codes must isolate for 7 to 14 days.
Alibaba has also partnered with Yitu Technology and Huawei to provide AI-supported services to help doctors diagnose patients more quickly and accurately through computed tomography (CT) scans. Typically, doctors must spend 5 to 15 minutes analyzing scan images, including over 300 images taken for each patient. However, according to Alibaba, its AI algorithm can reduce this time to just 20 seconds, achieving a diagnostic accuracy rate of 96%.
On February 18, Chongqing City promoted the use of an intelligent voice robot system citywide, automatically dialing the 12345 government service hotline to survey and collect information on the health status and travel conditions of returning workers and other citizens. The intelligent voice robot can make 3,500 survey calls per minute, achieving full coverage of epidemic prevention and control for all returning workers.
Penda Architecture Firm designed a “backpack-style protective device” to safeguard the health of frontline healthcare workers. This biological protective suit can disinfect the environment around the suit through heating and ultraviolet radiation, protecting the wearer from viral exposure. The protective suit is housed in a lightweight carbon fiber backpack, containing a PVC membrane that can unfold like a shield when needed to prevent viruses. This protective shield is also equipped with UV lights to neutralize any contaminants that come into contact with the surface.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic may hinder travel and impact various aspects of life, from stock trading to local gas stations, one thing remains unchanged—work must go on! To make a living, most people worldwide must continue working during this pandemic to sustain their livelihoods. However, more and more companies are establishing remote work systems, allowing employees to work from home to reduce the risk of potential infection. From creating spreadsheets to industrial automation, almost everything can now be done over the internet. Applications like Asana, Slack, and Trello enable employees to easily collaborate with their teams from anywhere, while Cloud services can be used to store and send large amounts of data. Coupled with remote robots, web cameras, and video conferencing tools, companies have significantly reduced downtime or operational disruptions that may occur during severe pandemics. Regardless, to ensure the safety and health of employees, remote work away from crowds is essential to minimize the risk of cluster infections.
These are just some examples of emerging technologies used to assist in monitoring, diagnosing, and treating confirmed COVID-19 cases or tracking potential infections. There are many more advanced smart epidemic prevention technologies that will help us successfully win this war against the pandemic. Humanity is a community with a shared future, and we need to unite to fight the epidemic!
Recommended Reading from Previous Articles (Click on the article title to read directly):
1. How Many AI Robot Companies Are Participating in the Fight Against COVID-19;
2. A Review of Infrared Thermometer Manufacturers on the Frontlines of Epidemic Prevention;
3. Understanding Infrared Thermometers in the Fight Against the Coronavirus Pandemic;
4. Discussing Various Methods of Measuring Temperature with Infrared Thermometers;
5. Market Analysis and Selection Points for Infrared Thermometers Sparked by the Pandemic;
6. Technical Principles and Core Component Analysis of Forehead Thermometers;
7. Common Questions Regarding Forehead Thermometers;
8. Popular Science: Common Knowledge About Using Infrared Thermometers;
9. Popular Science: Common Knowledge About Human Body Temperature.