The 15th Innovation and Entrepreneur Award in Robotics and Automation (IERA) goes to the "UVD Robot" from Blue Ocean Robotics. The collaborative robot drives autonomously through hospitals, emitting concentrated UV-C light to eliminate bacteria and other harmful microorganisms. As a result, the clinics achieve a 99.99% rate of disinfection, thereby reducing the risk for patients, staff and visitors of becoming infected with dangerous pathogens.

"The Blue Ocean Robotics UV disinfection robot shows the almost limitless potential of robotics for use in new environments," said Arturo Baroncelli, former president of the International Federation of Robotics, who has been awarded the IERA Award. "The combination of 'classic' mechatronic disciplines - typical of robotics - with the expertise of medicine and pharmacy are fantastic proof of this path of progress, and the IFR is pleased to acknowledge and support this virtual trend. " "We are very proud to have won the IERA Award 2019 for a groundbreaking product," said Claus Risager, CEO of Blue Ocean Robotics.

"Everyone can feel safe in rooms sanitized by robots - our UVD robot Not only does it reduce the risk of patients getting infections in the clinic, it also greatly protects visitors and hospital staff. " Based in Odense, Blue Ocean Robotics is a Danish manufacturer of service robots for healthcare, hospitality, construction and agriculture. The UV disinfection robot is distributed by its subsidiary UVD Robots. UVD Robot automatically disinfects contact surfaces Hospital infections cause significant healthcare costs: in the EU, these expenditures add up to 7 billion euros.

Sources of infection can be other patients, employees or even devices and influences from the hospital environment. The UVD robot moves autonomously through the rooms and positions itself autonomously in its operating environment. The device treats the surfaces in a hospital ward with light from several angles and up close. The robot disinfects all contact surfaces and also stops at predefined hotspots, which require a longer dwell time. The UV disinfection robot is no substitute for the manual cleaning process - it is designed as a supplementary system and always works in closed rooms.