In order to overcome the corona crisis and the anticipated “new normal”, it is essential to minimize the risk of infection through infected persons. Contact infections, resulting from touching contaminated surfaces, present a relevant transmission path. In the project “Mobile Disinfection”, MobDi for short, twelve Fraunhofer institutes and centers are developing technologies for mobile disinfection robots which disinfect potentially contaminated surfaces such as door handles and light switches in a targeted, efficient and careful manner. The robots recognize the material from which an object to be cleaned consists and the extent to which it has been soiled. According to this information, the robots select the disinfection method. For this purpose, the project is developing tools, e.g. for disinfection by wiping, spraying, UV or plasma, as well as a tool-changing system and is testing the technologies in public buildings and in public-transport vehicles. In addition, a robot for flexible, hygienic material transport in hospitals is being developed.
The core task of the Fraunhofer IST in this project is the development of a modular plasma system which works at atmospheric pressure and which can be integrated into mobile disinfection robots. Further focal points include the optimization of the efficiency of the disinfection process and the evaluation of the damage to surfaces caused by the different cleaning methods. As a result, the cleaning process can be made as effective as possible and, at the same time, be gentle on the material.
Project partners: Fraunhofer IPA (Project coordination), Fraunhofer IMW, Fraunhofer IOSB, Fraunhofer IFAM, Fraunhofer FEP, Fraunhofer IOF, Fraunhofer IWS, Fraunhofer IPM, Fraunhofer ILT, Fraunhofer IVV, Fraunhofer Italia
Projektstart: Oktober 2020
Ansprechpartner: Michael Thomas, Kristina Lachmann