Odisha’s ITI-Berhampur Designs Robot To Fight COVID-19

Berhampur: The Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Berhampur has designed a robot that can disinfect public transport and quarantine centres with ultra violet (UV) ray.

Principal of the government institute Dr. Rajat Kumar Panigrahy said that the apparatus, called UVC ROBO WARRIOR, can emit UV light to disinfect the surfaces of public transport vehicles and the isolation rooms occupied by COVID-19 patients.

Explaining the operation of the robot, he said it can move close to the target area for disinfection. Its UV ray with a wave length of 254 mm is easily absorbed by proteins. As a result, the nucleic acid of the bacteria and virus can denature and disassociate proteins from thymine dimmers leading to the destruction of the nucleic acid and the DNA and RNA of various bacteria, he added.

Dr. Panigrahy said the movement of the robot can be controlled by an android mobile phone with blue tooth by the operator from a long distance.

The blue tooth camera fitted in the eyes of the robot sends the video of the area of disinfection to the mobile screen for better control of movement. The sensor fitted on the body of the robot prevents its collision with the wall or any object coming on its way.

The robot has been produced with lightweight plywood and chargeable battery at a cost of around Rs 7,500.