An Emirati inventor has devised a compact machine that can enter buildings, climb stairs and trundle into homes to spray disinfectant.
Ahmed Al Mazroei adapted the "sterilisation robot" from the machines that his company makes for military and security purposes.
He said he hoped the devices could be used in the fight against the coronavirus.
"The robot can be sent into buildings, hospitals, malls and villas where nobody can go because of coronavirus," said Mr Al Mazroei, 39, who runs a company and a research centre in Mussaffah with 120 employees.
For outdoor, there is no problem you can just drive a car and put a machine on it but we needed to build something small that we could send indoors
“You can put sterilisation liquid, water, fog, smoke into the system," he said. "The robot can be sent to do the cleaning in closed, interior areas where you don’t want to send people.”
The unit can be remotely controlled from a distance of 3 kilometres, and operates on a battery that can last about 10 hours.
Five units have been tested over the past few weeks in Abu Dhabi during the nationwide sterilisation campaign. The device moves at about 10kph and has been built so it can through doorways and negotiate narrow stairwells.
Fitted with sensors and cameras that have a 360-degree view, it helps operators scan the area as they control its movement.
"We have started a production line of robots for use during the coronavirus," Mr Al Mazroei told The National.
“For outdoors, there is no problem – you can just drive a car and put a machine on it, but we needed to build something small that we could send indoors.”
During the continuing sterilisation campaign, vehicles fitted with turbine machines have been used across the country.
The Ahmed Al Mazroei Innovation Centre can build three to four of the units every month, and they are already receiving inquiries from countries including Kuwait.
Mr Al Mazroei plans to hand over additional machines to the UAE government to fight the virus.
Asked about the cost of the device, he said he had no plans yet to sell the units until the crisis abates.
"I want to support the government – this is something we need to do so it can benefit the country," he said.
“During this time I’m thinking of the UAE. After the coronavirus problem is over, we will think about the price.”
The unit is designed, built and programmed in Abu Dhabi.
Mr Al Mazroei built a research and development centre to manufacture unmanned robotic vehicles.
The hardy remote-controlled vehicles, typically fitted with night-vision cameras manufactured by his company for military applications, have been tested in the desert and in mountainous terrain.
He has previously developed a falcon-training system and a light robot camel jockey.
He received an entrepreneur award in 2015 from the Mohammed bin Rashid Award for Young Business Leaders and was presented a top innovator award for entrepreneurship by The National.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Emiratisation at work
Emiratisation was introduced in the UAE more than 10 years ago
It aims to boost the number of citizens in the workforce particularly in the private sector.
Growing the number of Emiratis in the workplace will help the UAE reduce dependence on overseas workers
The Cabinet in December last year, approved a national fund for Emirati jobseekers and guaranteed citizens working in the private sector a comparable pension
President Sheikh Khalifa has described Emiratisation as “a true measure for success”.
During the UAE’s 48th National Day, Sheikh Khalifa named education, entrepreneurship, Emiratisation and space travel among cornerstones of national development
More than 80 per cent of Emiratis work in the federal or local government as per 2017 statistics
The Emiratisation programme includes the creation of 20,000 new jobs for UAE citizens
UAE citizens will be given priority in managerial positions in the government sphere
The purpose is to raise the contribution of UAE nationals in the job market and create a diverse workforce of citizens
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Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, Penguin Randomhouse
The National photo project
Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
