GlobalLogic’s Silicon & Embedded division worked with Haystack Robotics to develop an autonomous mobile robot for disinfecting hospitals with ultraviolet light. The project began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when facilities sought ways to improve disinfection coverage while limiting the demands on staff. GlobalLogic physical AI lead Kunaal Mahanti said the company partnered with Haystack to turn its concept into an engineered system.
The robot combines real-time perception, edge-based intelligence and navigation, and is designed to operate around people and adapt to changes in its surroundings. GlobalLogic said it wanted to build more than a machine for a single task: the design separates the mobile base from the UV equipment so other payloads can potentially be mounted later. The company described the work as an architectural foundation for a broader class of solutions.
The platform’s motor controls, programming with ROS and sensor-fusion components have also informed other projects, Mahanti said, although GlobalLogic has not carried out many other hospital deployments using the robot itself.
Hospitals pose different navigation challenges from warehouses and factories. Corridors can be crowded, spaces may be closed off, and robots cannot simply enter rooms without considering doors, patients and staff. GlobalLogic developed two operating modes: autonomous navigation to a designated room and a “follow me” mode in which the robot accompanies a caregiver or nurse. In the latter, staff can open doors and prepare rooms before the robot enters.
Designing for hospitals also raised expectations around safety and noise. GlobalLogic chief technology officer Prem Balasubramanian said robots must navigate environments where people are constantly moving, including emergency rooms, and fit into workflows designed for humans. He noted that a robot that pauses for people may be suitable for disinfection, but could be a poor fit for tasks that require urgent delivery through a crowded area.
Mahanti identified cost, compliance with medical standards and how hospital staff perceive robots as obstacles to wider adoption. Facilities need a clear return on investment, while robots that interact with patients and the public must meet relevant standards. Staff may also be reluctant to accommodate bulky machines in busy corridors and elevators.
Sources: The Robot Report.