Pohang, South Korea – A team from POSTECH has developed an “Intelligent Autonomous Wiping and UV-C Disinfection Robot” to automate hospital sanitation.

Professor Keehoon Kim and Ph.D. candidate Jaewon Byun from POSTECH’s Department of Mechanical Engineering led the project. They collaborated with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Korea Institute of Robot and Convergence, Elphoton Co., Ltd., and Pohang St. Mary’s Hospital.

The robot addresses labor shortages and safety risks linked to manual disinfection. It combines physical wiping using a robotic arm with UV-C irradiation to clean hard-to-reach areas.

Tests at Pohang St. Mary’s Hospital showed the robot effectively reduces bacteria and operates reliably over time. It frees up healthcare staff by handling repetitive tasks and delivers consistent disinfection, lowering the risk of infection.

Its features include precise control algorithms, a self-sanitizing station, and wireless charging for continuous use.

Professor Kim stated the technology will expand to other public spaces to help prevent future pandemics.

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