MUSR: A low-cost, autonomous, multipurpose ultraviolet sterilization robot

AJAS · 2022 Engineering

Nidhi Krishna Kumar

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Overview

Disinfection and sterilization are two integral parts of any safe indoor environment, and these factors have become more critical in recent times. Several institutions lack the resources to access the most effective, high-tech sterilization methods used in hospitals and major institutions, which brings a need for a low-cost method to thoroughly sanitize enclosed areas. MUSR, or Multipurpose Ultraviolet Sterilization Robot, is an automated system that facilitates the sterilization of these areas. Its primary functionality is ultraviolet sterilization with mopping and sweeping features to complement and provide more effective UV sterilization. MUSR has the ability to drive autonomously while emitting UV-C light to the walls and floors, thus sterilizing the area and debilitating bacteria and viruses on all exposed surfaces. The system employs an Arduino UNO microcontroller, ultrasonic sensors for distance and object detection, and can also be remotely controlled using a phone app. The system was tested using dosimeter cards to ensure that a sufficient dosage to inactivate bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens was present. MUSR is an accessible, low-cost system that provides the user with an effective sterilization solution to increase the safety of people in the area.

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From the student

Due to my fervent interest in science and technology, I participated in Science Fairs since kindergarten, a decision that drove me to develop a strong passion for research and project development. Perhaps at the time, my decision to join was just a child-like curiosity and desire to experiment with my environment and make “cool stuff happen,” something in the nature of turning white carnations pink and blue. But science fairs have since become one of my favorite annual activities, with my reasoning shifting from playful curiosity towards an opportunity to develop potential solutions for various problems that affect my community. With those shifts, my respect for research alongside my personal aspirations to succeed in it rose as well. When the pandemic hit, it blindsided all of us – we all had to take an extra step, one we didn’t previously have to, in order to stay safe. As the designated “sanitizer” in the house, I knew firsthand how time-consuming and exhausting that extra step was, and as school and talk of hybrid education began, my worry for not only my fellow peers’ safety but also that of our school staff rose. Unlike a major hospital, my school didn’t have a very effective sanitization system, and I knew that there were countless other schools and institutions that were the same, and didn’t have the resources to acquire the high-tech sanitization system necessary to ensure that everyone would be safe. My desire to prototype solutions for issues in my community led to me deciding to create a device that would not only increase the safety of everyone in the building, but also make it easier for the janitors, custodians, and others responsible for the sanitization of the building to do their job and stay safe themselves. That led to the design and formation of MUSR, an autonomous sanitization robot that uses UV-C sterilization complemented with a vacuum and liquid disinfectant. Like every year previous, I took my project to science fair with the hopes of being able to make both the issue and MUSR just a little more well-known. When the director of the science fair reached out to me regarding AJAS, I was thrilled to be able to continue that purpose and reach a larger group of people.

References

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