Media Release
Mangaluru, May 12: Vanora Robot, an innovative anti-COVID-19 disinfecting robot, was launched at Tejaswini Hospital, here on Tuesday May 12 by Dr M Shantharam Shetty, chairman of Tejaswini Hospital and pro-chancellor of Nitte University in the presence of Dr K R Kamath, former president of Indian Medical Association (IMA, Mangaluru branch), Brigadier I N Rai, cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr Jayakrishnan and orthopedic surgeon, M Ajith Kumar.
The unique device is developed by Mangaluru based robotics engineer, Krishnan Nambiar, CEO and founder of Vanora Robots Pvt Ltd. He did his BArch at the University of Madras, MSc IT at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland and MSc Autonomous Robotics at the University of York, England.
The robotic platform, Vanora Robot is designed as a support system for frontline fighters of the COVID-19. It is a fully functional unmanned robotic platform to disperse high doses of Type C Ultra Violet rays (at permissible level of about 300 J/m²) to destroy the structure of all bacteria, fungal spores and many types of virus including various types of coronavirus.
Launching the new equipment Dr M Shantharam Shetty said, “Robots are the greatest innovations of the last decades and have taken over many challenging functions of humans. There is no need to fear COVID pandemic. It is only a newly discovered member of the coronavirus family and we can fight it effectively through preventive measures like sanitizing, social distancing and disinfection of human environments. So let us fight this virus rather than fear it.”
Prajwal Shetty, a Hardware Engineer of Vanora Robots Pvt Ltd, gave a live demonstration of the robot and said that it has been developed using indigenous technology. The first prototype of Vanora Robot, built at a cost of Rs 2.5 lac will be donated by the Satchidananda Charitable Medical Trust to the Government District Hospital, Kasargod, the inventor’s hometown on Wednesday May 13.
Vanora Robot can disinfect a room of 140 sq ft in less than 5 minutes, and during which it gives full visual access to the person controlling it remotely. It also constantly disinfects the floor it travels on. The specially designed wheels which give it a multidirectional path make it very agile and easy to control without any technical skills or expertise. Its safety features include autonomous locomotion using artificial intelligence by which its inbuilt sensors will detect and prevent collision with approaching objects.
Vanora Robots modular design makes it easily modifiable to suit various industries, hospitals, hotels, malls and public places which require quick disinfection or remote unmanned access.
Manager, Preethika Punjangod and engineers Akarsh Shetty, Ramkishor K and Mahim Monteiro of Vanora Robots were present.