Robots Are Deployed To Disinfect Subway Trains Amid COVID-19 Outbreak

Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, Hong Kong’s transportation authorities have come up with a creative way to disinfect subway cars. Government-owned railway operator, Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway Corporation has deployed robots to clean subway trains.

The size of the robot is equivalent to that of a mini-fridge. These robots roll down the trains while spraying a solution of “vaporized hydrogen peroxide.” However, instead of taking the place of human cleaning staff completely, the robots are only used to assist them. The robots can get to small gaps that are difficult for human staff to reach.

Within 20 meters, operators can remotely control these bots or pre-set the floor plan and put them on auto. It takes the robot around four hours to disinfect a train with 8 cars.

In a statement, MRT Corporation’s Operations Director, Tony Lee said that it planned to use 20 VHP robots in total for train cleaning to provide greater health protection for both its staff and customers.

Besides Hong Kong, Chinese authorities also use large self-driving vans to disinfect entire roadways as well as delivering medical supplies.

Hong Kong has done great in controlling the outbreak. There are a total of 129 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, out of which, 39 are from outside of its borders.

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