In the final competition on robotics medical robot-disinfector is recognized the best
During the final competition of the “Robotics and Engineering” Module, 30 high school students introduced their concepts of robots, which would help Ukraine in combating coronavirus.
Among them – robots-couriers, robots-assistants, robots-diagnosticians, robots-ventilators, disinfectors for purchase and rooms.
To demonstrate their idea, the girls sent a video-presentation and a concept, developed by them in the LEGO Digital Designer program. Evaluated were originality and utility of the participants` idea, along with the quality of technical project performance.
The first place was taken by 17-year-old Maria Shcherban from Zaporizhia.
“For constructing a robot to help combat coronavirus, one needs to determine the problem. I have spotted the following ones – doctors getting infected through permanent contact with the sick and lack of protective suits. As a solution I propose a robot, which would be useful in two situations – it will disinfect a doctor`s suit before taking it off for it to be safe for utilization and disinfect rooms after the sick for a person not to contact with the infected facilities”, - the author tells.
Maria`s invention has to be equipped with tubes for sucking up a sanitizer and valves for its spraying, an engine, and sensors for monitoring the pressure and solution amount and moving limbs. According to the developer`s idea, such robots must work in pairs to disinfect each other. They must be able to navigate in space, know disinfection algorithms, distinguish people in overalls and other robots.
“Perfect idea, well-designed concept, such robots can be helpful to people. The robot model is interesting, unusual components were used (pumps and hoses). An upright configuration and a tricycle landing gear were chosen for the robot, thus boosting its maneuverability and enabling narrow rooms processing. The place of the vat with sanitizer was well thought out, its position does not lead to an offset of the center of the robot mass, making it quite stable and better loading the drive wheels. The well-placed sensors and sprinklers increase robot efficiency. Among the interesting assignments, which are still to be handled in future while working on the concept, are the following – a system of identifying people, objects and rooms; the solution to the problem of the robot`s self-processing to exclude the need for a robot-partner, thus reducing the cost of the project twice”, - so has Olena Savchynska, Coordinator of Trainers in the STEM School INVENTOR, assessed the winner`s idea.
Second place was divided between 16-year-old Veronika Podliesnova from Dnipro and her CMA (Comprehensive Medical Assistant), that gives out medicine, delivers meals, ensures online bedside rounds and receives alarm calls; Alyona Kvitka from Severodonetsk and her robot-disinfector, cleansing doors, door handles, railings and metro carriages; Maria Topol from Ukrainka and her robot-pill box for the elderly and people with cognitive disabilities. The robot lights up and buzzes until a person takes medicine.
The “Robotics and Engineering” Module’s winner will get a technology kit for constructing a robot. And once the world recovers from coronavirus, there will be a trip-surprise waiting for her. The girls who will take the second place will get a two-month online course Robotics Foundations I - Robot Modeling by Università Degli Studi di Napoli Federico II (Italy).
STEM is FEM project held the “Robotics and Engineering” Module in April.