Robotics and intelligent systems against a pandemic

Khamis, A.; Meng, J.; Wang, J.; Azar, A. T.; Prestes, E.; Li, H.; Hameed, I. A.; Takács, Á Rudas I. J.; Haidegger, T.

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus and its disease COVID-19 presents an unprecedented challenge for humanity. Intelligent systems and robotics particularly are helping the fight against COVID-19 several ways. Potential technology-driven solutions in this accelerating pandemic include, but are not limited to, early detection and diagnosis, assistive robots, indoor and outdoor disinfection robots, public awareness and patrolling, contactless last-mile delivery services, micro-and nano-robotics and laboratory automation. This article sheds light on the roles robotics and automation can play in fighting this disastrous pandemic and highlights a number of potential applications to transform this challenge into opportunities. The article also highlights the ethical implications of robotics and intelligent systems during the emergency side and in the post-pandemic world. © 2021, Budapest Tech Polytechnical Institution. All rights reserved.