Using Service Robots as the Base Technology of Industry 4.0 for Global Management of the Covid-19 Pandemic

It is well-known that in 2019 there was a spread of a new disease of the Covid-19 virus, so the World Health Organization (WHO) publicly declared a pandemic of the Covid-19 virus because of its rapid spread in the world, also known as “the global emergency”. It was necessary to respond to the prevention of the spread of the virus, i.e., the suppression of the Covid-19 pandemic. One of the answers offered is the use of service robots in preventing the spread of the Covid-19 virus, as well as the global management of the Covid-19 virus pandemic. The application of service robots in healthcare institutions in the recent years has been possible due to the development of advanced technologies such as: computer science, sensors, electronics, mechatronics, basic technologies of Industry 4.0, since they have enabled the development of sophisticated sensorimotor functions that give service robots the ability to autonomously perceive, plan and execute tasks while minimizing person-to-person contact. By using service robots, the contact of front-line personnel with infected persons is reduced, which prevents the spread of the infection. The implementation of service robots in healthcare institutions during the Covid-19 pandemic increased as the pandemic spread so robots were increasingly used for cleaning, disinfection, control, sampling, patient logistics, remote patient monitoring, etc. The paper reviews the application of service robots in healthcare institutions during the Covid-19 virus pandemic, with a focus on how service robots can help in the global management of the Covid-19 pandemic.