ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Improving hygiene in healthcare could be a by-product of a new system that has been developed specifically for use in the robotics industry.

Grasp Sense is designed to teach robots how to grasp and hold objects without crushing them. But its developers claim the technology could also be used in hospitals to reveal the most frequently-touched surfaces in a bid to improve cleaning outcomes.

"Robots need to know exactly the object's three-dimensional structure, material and weight distribution," said Grasp Sense developer Jukka Häkkinen from the University of Helsinki. "Humans have the ability of intuitive grasp. Our goal is to transfer human skills to robots."

Grasping and touching objects has until now posed a significant challenge in robot development and has prohibited the use of robots in areas such as logistics and healthcare. With the aid of thermal and depth cameras, however, Grasp Sense can be used to measure the heat signature left behind on the surface of objects as a result of human touch.

According to Häkkinen, this technology could be used to create models for hospital hygiene via cameras installed on hospital ceilings. These thermal cameras would expose the most touch-intensive surfaces which in turn would make it easier for staff to keep them clean.

And Grasp Sense technology could also be adapted to design products that are comfortable and ergonomic to hold, he says.