Dirty work for MTR robots

Local scientists are helping fight the outbreak with high-tech devices they have developed, from a super disinfecting robot to bug-busting surface coatings and rapid diagnostic tests.

A robot about 70 centimeters tall and the size of a small fridge, jointly invented by the MTR Corp and Avalon Biomedical (Management), has been used to disinfect train compartments. There will be a fleet of 20 of these robots, which will spray disinfectant as they cover the trains.

The hydrogen peroxide chemical can eliminate viruses and bacteria like staphylococcus aureus and E coli.

The robot was used to sanitize the back-of-house area at Mong Kok East station after a station officer was diagnosed with the virus last month.

“An operator can preset the robot to operate automatically by pre-setting the floor plan of the designated area, or remotely control the robot with a mobile device within a distance of 20 meters,” the MTRC said, adding it takes four hours to clean an eight-car train. “If there is a special situation, such as a passenger vomiting, MTR staff will deploy robots to perform deep cleaning.”

For its part, the University of Science and Technology said it has developed a new coating that can kill 99.9 percent of highly-infectious viruses - such as measles, mumps and rubella - and surrogate feline calicivirus, a virus which is more resistant than coronaviruses.

The multilevel antimicrobial polymer coating helps prevent microbial contamination and infrastructure corrosion for 90 days, and can be used on various surfaces, including metals, concrete, wood, glass, plastics, fabrics, leathers and textiles without changing the materials’ appearance and tactile feel.

Team leader Yeung King-lun said the “highly versatile” coating was tested in a hospital and an elderly home, and the results were “very encouraging”.

The team said the coating has been applied to over 70 daycare centers, schools, shopping malls and other public facilities. The coating will also be tested in water pipes and sewage drainage.