An automated cleaning system for hospitals

Insufficient hygienic practices in Irish hospitals coupled with one of the highest number of reported cases of MRSA in Europe have highlighted the need for solutions to aid in the task of cleaning. This automated cleaning system consisted of two robots: a core robot developed separately with navigational and task scheduling capabilities integrated. The cleaning task was carried out by making use of a commercially available Roomba vacuum cleaner which had been adapted to operate in conjunction with the core robot. A uni-directional communications was established; commands were sent from the core robot to the Roomba. A visual analysis software, by the name of RoboRealm, was integrated into the system as the primary component. The initial role of the software was to allow the vacuum robot to orientate itself in order to enable transport from location to destination by means of visually tracking an object of interest. The object was to be located on the rear of the core robot. Subsequently the visual recognition aspect took on a greater role and encompassed a system by which commands were issued by the main robot and visually interpreted by the Roomba. This enabled the cleaning system to issue uni-directional commands and therefore carry out regular cleaning of any room, spot cleaning on a small spillage, following from one location to a destination or pause at any point during transport for emergency reasons. All tasks were deemed to be completed, however the prototype has not been completed and future work is still required in order to further the work carried out thus far. The robot successfully received the commands and activates the relevant programming as instructed. A critical analysis and recommendations for future work finish the report.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

meng

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Dublin City University

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Griffin, Colin

• Robotics

Language dc:language

en