Mobile robots in COVID-19

Robotics as a discipline focuses on combining perception with actions for human assistance in day-to-day lives and keeping them safe. Before COVID-19, mobile robots were limited mostly to the manufacturing industry, but with the present scenario, both demand and necessity have increased. Social distancing was required at all levels to flatten the pandemic curve, but it also had its challenges for essential services. With fewer working hands, the necessity to maintain social distancing directed us toward innovations in mobile robotics. The installation minimized human contact, substituted human in cleaning, sanitization, and delivery, and also monitored interactions and meetings. Various applications were developed as POC (Proof of Concept)in these difficult times to ensure safety and distancing. Ultraviolet (UV) robots disinfected the spaces, sanitizer spray robots are used in the manufacturing area, food and medicine delivery robots for hospitals, and, similarly, interaction and follow-me robots interacted with patients. It minimized the impact of COVID in hospitals, quarantine facilities, and manufacturing area. The distance was maintained from contaminated zones and allowed the workforce to focus on important tasks and continue the fight. Some applications also utilized perception and deep learning technologies to identify people with masks and perform thermal screenings. Mobile robots' potential has been realized and the horizon has widened. It has thus created an opportunity for advanced research in healthcare mobile robotics and low-cost indoor robotics by using innovative technologies. © 2021 River Publishers. All rights reserved.