2020 Robot Trend Could Explode in 2021 and Beyond | Design News
Mobile robot growth surged in 2020, covering land, air, and water. What will the next decade bring?
John Blyler | Dec 16, 2020
Dr. Roboto Comes to You
Outside of the factory and warehouse floors, human-friendly collaborative robots or cobots are finding acceptance in the medical and hospital halls. In addition to their gentleness, these mobile robots can’t be infected by biological viruses like COVID-19. Robotic systems have been especially important in clinical care, such as in disease prevention, diagnosis and screening, and patient care.
Several companies have designed robots to help alleviate some of the more mundane tasks that nurses must perform. One of those companies is Diligent Robotics, whose bot “Moxi” is equipped with a flexible arm, gripper hand, and mobility that enable it to find lightweight medical resources, navigate a clinic’s hallways and drop them off for the nurse.
Another function of these robots in recent months has been to connect families with loved ones suffering from COVID-19 who are confined to hospital ICU wards. They have also been used to act as telepresence companions to elderly shut-ins, to inspect an airplane engine up close, and to sell art in a gallery. Other robots have been equipped to shine UV light on surfaces to kill germs.