Are robots ready for a widespread role in battling the coronavirus pandemic?

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Not quite yet, says Eugene Demaitre, senior editor of The Robot Report.   But they’re evolving in that direction.

Sanitizing, delivering, assisting medical professionals and even monitoring general health are among the tasks of which robots are currently capable.  And when the pandemic ends, we may very well see growing acceptance of robots’ use in daily life.

As discussed in our previous interview, Eugene sees robots as augmenting, rather than replacing, humans in the workforce.  With the new considerations of COVID-19 and social distancing, that augmentation could be especially beneficial.

Eugene explained the various ways robots are being put to use against COVID-19, offered some resources for aspiring roboticists and shared some insights on the future, after the pandemic ends.

On this edition of Over Coffee®, you will hear:

• How robots are “on the front lines” in healthcare;

• A closer look at the way a disinfection robot works, with UV light;

• How robots allow for expansion of human capabilities, through telemedicine;

• Some of the considerations involved in delivery applications;

• Why food-handling automation may soon become more common;

• Where we are, currently, with telepresence robots;

• Eugene’s recommendations for educational robotic resources;

• What human skills will be most needed in the job market, after the crisis abates;

• What drones are doing in China, in the health area;

• Resources for open-source software and learning more about robotics while we’re isolated;

• How robotic capabilities are evolving to meet the needs of smaller businesses.

• A look forward, at the lessons we may learn from the pandemic–and how robotics can support that vision.

For more information on current robotics developments, check out The Robot Report, Robotics Business Review and Collaborative Robotics Trends.

• The Robotics Summit and Expo is scheduled for September 24th and 25th, in Boston.  It’s co-located with the Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum–check out these links for more information!