Engineers in the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MIE) Department at Qatar University have created a robot capable of delivering food and medications to COVID-19 patients while also disinfecting the air and surfaces.

The multipurpose autonomous robot, dubbed the Food, Drug Delivery and Disinfection Robot, can transport food and medications to quarantined COVID-19 patients, thereby preventing the spread of the virus. When in disinfecting mode, the robot either emits ultraviolet (UV) light to disinfect surfaces or discharges a chemical mist to disinfect the air.

Source: Qatar University

Designed for hospitals and quarantine spaces, the dual purpose robot automates tasks usually undertaken by humans. Replacing human workers with the robot could potentially limit human exposure to those infected with COVID-19, according to the robot’s developers.

To see how the Food, Drug Delivery and Disinfection Robot works, watch the video that appears courtesy of Qatar University.