Strict hygiene and safety regulations, associated with the recent pandemic, put hospitals and public institutions in the challenge of finding new approaches and technologies. UV disinfection automation improves health and safety, and mobile and autonomous UV light robots are recommended to be used, provided that the use of UV lamps is done following strict methodologies. Therefore, robots equipped with UV light accessories are ideal for disinfecting hospital rooms, commercial centers, classrooms, sports halls, and other public spaces. Disinfection of indoor spaces becomes more important than ever.
To ensure complete disinfection, organizations have begun using autonomous robots with UVC light. These are efficient and environmentally friendly devices that use ultraviolet light to eliminate microorganisms from the air and surfaces. But how do we choose the right UV disinfection robot for our needs?
A UV disinfection robot purchase is a significant choice that requires evaluation of a range of features and brands.. It is important to identify specific needs and research carefully to find the most suitable robot for the spaces that need to be disinfected. There are a number of key factors to consider when comparing and choosing different brands of UV disinfection robots. Among these are the number of UVC tubes, the lifespan of these lamps, UVC irradiance, and the control mode (through a dedicated platform, application, etc.). We will compare several brands of UV disinfection robots, such as the CoBOT-Ultra produced by Wolf-e Robotics, UVDI-360, Tru-D, Thor-UVC, SteriPro, Xenex, and compare their characteristics.
If you are looking for a UV disinfection device for air and/or surfaces, read this article to discover the most important features that should be taken into consideration and find out which product and brand are the most suitable.
What kind of device do we choose?
What is the most effective method for disinfecting the air and various surfaces at a hospital, workplace, gym, or other institution where particular sections are typically occupied yet conveniently empty at regular intervals? Ideally, a system that can be transported – or self-transported – into that potentially infected space and operate alone with its UV-C germ-killing beam. Ideally, this device should generate a germicidal process report, offer remote operation interface, and stop automatically to avoid exposing people to UV radiation. In other words, you require a powerful disinfection robot! Thankfully, owing to scientific progress, we have many of possibilities.
Robotic systems for disinfection are more efficient than typical devices that execute the action from a stationary location because technologies are intrinsically customizable. The robot navigates inside the room to minimize the distance between devices and reduce shading: a robotic UV-C device programmed to move automatically is effective in reducing contamination in all places throughout the room.
It is important to know that new technologies, such as using a UV-C light disinfection device, involve more than simply pressing a switch. At the same time, we should not be afraid and think that it is super complicated and that we will not be able to use these products.
This means that special attention must be paid to “shaded” areas placed – for example – under an object in the disinfected room, so that lighting sources must be provided from multiple positions. It may even be necessary for UV-C lighting sources or objects to be moved for multiple disinfection cycles during cleaning. Another impediment to proper cleaning is that people can only tolerate small doses of this light. Typically, for efficiency and safety, operators install UV disinfection lighting in an area, leave, and then return when it is finished.
UV Power
UV lamps used in the disinfection process must be reliable, efficient, accessible, and energy-efficient. Manufacturers use different types of UV lamps for germicidal purposes.
Mercury lamps are very similar in shape and form to conventional fluorescent lamps. They are monochromatic, as they produce UV light at 253.7 nm (i.e., 254 nm). Pulsed xenon lamps emit flashes of germicidal UV light for a few milliseconds. The pulse produces a broad spectrum of UV-C wavelengths (200 nm – 315 nm) and is capable of combining the germicidal effects of UV-C illumination with the thermal disintegration of cell walls due to the intensity and speed of photon delivery. These lamps can be used to disinfect vacant places; however, direct exposure to traditional germicidal UV lights in populated public venues is not permitted due to health risks.
CoBOT Ultra, the world’s most powerful disinfection robot, is designed and manufactured in Romania by manufacturer Wolf-e Robotics. It has the highest installed power on a disinfection device, leading to very rapid disinfection cycles with 25% higher efficiency compared to usual chemical disinfection methods. The device operates in short disinfection cycles using 10 Philips UV-C sources of the highest quality, which do not generate ozone, with a wavelength of 253.7 nm. The total power output is 3250W, and the lifespan is 12,000 hours.
Comparison: CoBOT Ultra is nearly twice as powerful as SteriPro and over 5 times more powerful than UVD Robot (with 4 lamps). Additionally, the UV lamps used in the manufacturing of this system do not produce ozone.
The UVDI-360 robot is designed in the US, starting with a model featuring 4 UV lamps. To maximize the distribution of UV-C energy, an aluminum reflector layer is placed behind the lamps. The manufacturer uses a total power of 650 W for the disinfection robot. The estimated lamp lifespan is 4,000 hours.
The Tru-D device from American manufacturer Tru Defense is a portable UVC disinfection system that delivers an automatically measured dose of UV-C light to continuously disinfect a room during a cycle. Tru-D lamps use very low levels of mercury vapor, which is always encapsulated inside and does not emit any mercury secondary product. The manufacturer uses 28 lamps for the disinfection robot, with a total power of 2,400 W. The estimated lamp lifespan is 8,000 hours.
The Thor-UVC disinfection robot, produced in the UK and the US by Finsen Tech, is equipped with 24 individual low-pressure mercury lamps, each with 95W power. These lamps provide a total UVC power of 2,280W over a longer distance, eliminating more pathogens in the shortest possible time. The estimated lamp lifespan is 9,000 hours.
The SteriPro disinfection robot from Slovenian manufacturer UVC Solutions uses 16 mercury vapor lamps that emit UV-C radiation at a wavelength of 254 nm – standard lamps for disinfecting surfaces, water, and air, with a total power of 2,000 W. The estimated lamp lifespan is 9,000 hours.
According to American manufacturer Xenex, the Xenex LightStrike disinfection robot uses UV radiation from a xenon lamp in the range of 200-315 nm, with a power of 1,600 W. The manufacturer uses a single lamp with a power of 820 W. The lifespan of a xenon lamp varies depending on the design and power consumption, with a major manufacturer indicating average lifespans ranging from 500 hours to 1,500 hours.
Safety. UV disinfection.
Surface disinfection equipment, with exposed lamps (visible from outside the device), can only be safely used if equipped with additional safety devices, such as presence sensors that automatically stop the lamp if movement is detected nearby. Additionally, operators must be trained to use these devices safely, only in spaces where no other people are present.
CoBOT Ultra is a UV robot that has automatic decoupling when motion is detected. According to the safety settings, the robot does not start if it detects the presence of people within its range – this function is provided by four 360° coverage and 10m detection range PIR sensors.
Comparison: Although all brands considered have safety measures in operation, CoBOT Ultra has a holistic system, implemented on overlapping levels with control keys, to ensure the “zero error” objective.
The UVDI-360 disinfection robot has four infrared motion sensors that block device operation when people are present. Additionally, user safety is improved through the additional polymer protection provided for each UV lamp in case of accidental breakage.
The Tru-D device has redundant features to ensure safe operation and automatic shutdown when a person enters the disinfected area. The operator starts and controls the robot remotely at the beginning of the work cycle, being notified by audio or written messages when the operation is completed. Along with the disinfection robot, the manufacturer provides Smart BARRIER to operators – self-supporting walls that rise easily and cover a room opening from floor to ceiling. These can be used in open areas or very large rooms, ensuring local disinfection without affecting the rest of the area.
Thor-UVC is placed in position and automatically extends to the optimal height to eliminate pathogens from dark and shaded areas. The device has four sensors that automatically stop the robot in case of any movement. This means that the user can be safely outside the room when operating the device or adjusting its settings. In addition, there are two manual stop buttons.
The motion sensors of SteriPro immediately stop the device operation if someone accidentally enters the workspace. A special 185 nm filter prevents ozone production, and the device can be operated wirelessly from a distance through a tablet.
The safety sensors of the Xenex LightStrike robot also immediately stop the device when movement is detected in the room while the robot is working.
Conformity. Traceability. Control.
To be truly effective, a UV-C robot must not only provide germicidal power. As was already noted, the disinfection activity must be designed in accordance with the unique points of interest in each room, and the robot must be able to be controlled and monitored remotely. In addition, the device must be capable of emitting notifications regarding the completion of tasks or any interruption of the disinfection cycle, as well as final reports on the quality of disinfection.
The existence of a management platform for the disinfection robot allows not only the adaptation of its activity for the various rooms in the institution where it is used, but also the creation of cleaning routines, evaluation of the disinfection process performance, and administration of device resources. All top manufacturers offer or should offer such integrated platforms that increase device efficiency, reduce resources allocated to disinfection operations, and associated risks.
The dedicated mobile application for operating the CoBOT Ultra robot is preinstalled on the Android operating system control tablet. The application sends notifications when a disinfection cycle is interrupted by someone entering the space and when the UV-C source’s lifespan is approaching its end. The robot also has a complex device management platform integrated with advanced fleet management and building automation systems, allowing for the enrollment and calibration of each device based on UV-C source irradiance and number, unique account creation for each person responsible for disinfection, and enrollment of room dimensions. The system generates a unique QR code for each room, which is attached to the entrance. The system can also create cleaning routines, monitor the performance of cleaning staff, and track the lifespan of sources for each device enrolled in the system.
The CoBOT Ultra integrates the mobile application with an easy-to-use working method into a dedicated UV disinfection device management platform. The benefit of this style of working is the ability to enroll all UV devices regardless of the brand or supplier. Additionally, a centralized system can be created at the unit, organizational, regional, or national level in which traceability and compliance with air and surface disinfection activities are monitored and analyzed in real-time.
The UVDI-360 device has several automated features to simplify operation and data management. It has its own interface with a color touch screen and operating system, where operator-specific information is recorded, locations are stored and saved for easy use and monitoring, and information about the lamp’s life is displayed, with automatic notifications about lamp errors. The usage history can also be accessed on the cloud-based Smart Data portal, which provides analytical and diagnostic tools and generates customizable reports that can be filtered by multiple parameters. The UV Dose Verify technology provides a UV-C sensitive label that changes color from yellow to green when exposed, confirming that the required germicidal dose has reached the target surface.
Tru-D SmartUVC comes equipped with a cellular-enabled remote control for state-of-the-art control, providing ease of use and real-time documentation of the disinfection process. Usage data is collected and managed by the robot, and the operator can view device usage statistics automatically provided via a web browser to the secure Tru-D portal (which provides visual data to show that a room has been properly disinfected). Additionally, personalized and automated weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports, device usage documentation, and evaluation analyses are available to compare usage and compliance objectives.
Thor-UVC uses LIDAR room mapping technology (a 360-degree laser) to provide a rapid and efficient dose of UV-C germicidal energy and ensure effective disinfection. With the device’s tablet, the operator can make any desired adjustments to the disinfection area. Once the area is determined, the robot provides an exact time for terminal disinfection. This level of detail allows operators to manage their time more efficiently. Once a disinfection cycle is completed, an easy-to-read disinfection report and graph are sent to the operator via email. These real-time reports are complemented by sortable data for analysis and infection prevention records.
The SteriPro disinfection robot has a SMART dashboard for traceability. Users can access real-time reports via the tablet and dashboard, as well as through an application installed on their mobile phone. The operator is guided and informed about the status of the disinfection process. The system records details about each disinfection process, operator, and room information.
Xenex LightStrike offers an adaptable reporting program whose results are stored in the cloud. The Strike partnership program provides workflows based on best practices and information from hundreds of medical units worldwide, training for efficient robot use and improved efficiency, as well as analysis of disinfection targets, setting objectives, and reporting data.
Price
Compared to traditional cleaning techniques, UVC robots offer several advantages. Firstly, they require less manpower: once positioned, a UVC robot will perform its task without the need for additional control. Additionally, they do not require permanent disinfectant resources or replacement of cleaning equipment. Access is extended: UVC robots can enter spaces and disinfect areas that are difficult to access manually or through other cleaning methods.
The use is safer: since the UV robot does not use chemicals, sprays, or other cleaning products, there is no chance of hazardous substances accidentally falling into the wrong hands – an important aspect in hospitals where vulnerable individuals are hosted and treated.
Although the initial cost of a UVC disinfection robot is relatively high, substantial savings can be made over time, both in terms of continuous use and in terms of the amounts saved due to reduced infection rates. Prices for the aforementioned brands range from approximately 51,000 euros to around 121,000 euros for Tru-D and Xenex robots. In this price range, taking into account all the specific features listed above.
CoBOT Ultra offers the most efficient price/quality ratio.
To convince you of the qualities and efficiency of the CoBOT Ultra robot, all you have to do is request a demo session, with results guaranteed based on certified dosimeters! All Wolf-e Robotics systems, developed and produced entirely in Romania to the highest quality standards, come with a range of integrated services (microaerophore analysis, product counseling, service), and interested parties benefit from personalized advice.
Comparison: CoBOT Ultra is the most powerful robot in the world at the moment, with a price half that of other brands that are not nearly as powerful. For example, Tru-D and Xenex are twice the price of CoBOT Ultra. Regarding the similar price comparison between UVD Robot and CoBOT Ultra, it should be mentioned that the power difference is very large, with the device produced by the Romanian company Wolf-e Robotics being over 5 times more powerful.
We are Wolf-e Robotics, and every day we work to support our mission of disinfecting the air and surfaces in the places where we work, learn, and spend our time. Through disinfection with intelligent UVC light equipment and mobile robots, we provide the most efficient and environmentally friendly method of inactivating microorganisms on surfaces and in the air. With applicability in the medical, commercial, transportation, education, and corporate sectors.
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