An autonomous mobile robot with a hybrid disinfection mechanism

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile robot for disinfecting an object or an area, comprising a base; an at least one sensor disposed on at least one area of said base and configured to identify at least one target area and detect motion within the said target area; an at least one disinfection unit disposed on at least another area of said base and configured to discharge an at least one disinfectant within said target area; an at least one external control panel having an at least one display unit on said base and configured to display and can be operated by at least one application for controlling the said mobile robot; an at least one mobility means mounted on a lower area of said base and configured to initiate movement of the mobile robot around said target area; and an at least one control module mounted on an encased area in the base and is operatively connected to the at least one sensor, the at least one disinfection unit, the at least one external control panel, and the at least one mobility means.

Description

[0001] AN AUTONOMOUS MOBILE ROBOT WITH A HYBRID DISINFECTION MECHANISM

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a mobile robot for disinfecting an object or an area.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The pandemic led to an era where hygiene and sanitation have become more important and instigated a quest for innovative solutions to maintain clean and sterile environments. This also pushed significant advancement in the field of mobile robots for disinfecting possibly contaminated objects and areas. These robots offer a transformative approach to sanitation, providing a range of benefits that address both the efficiency and effectiveness of disinfection processes.

[0006] The use of mobile robots for disinfection provided several customer benefits such as their ability to deliver consistent and thorough cleaning across various environments. This is contrary to the traditional manual cleaning methods which may suffer from human error and inconsistent application. Mobile robots operate autonomously, ensuring that every surface receives uniform treatment. This is particularly crucial in high-traffic areas or settings with complex layouts, where manual cleaning might miss spots or be less effective.

[0007] In addition, mobile disinfection robots use simple to advanced sensors and algorithms that enable them to precisely navigate and adjust to various settings. Because of their versatility, these robots can efficiently clean any surface, including those difficult-to-reach locations. Moreover, these robots improve the cleaning process' effectiveness by using advanced disinfectants and ultraviolet (UV) light that lowers the risk of contamination and the spread of dangerous infections.

[0008] Furthermore, the use of mobile robots results in significant labor and financial savings. Organizations can maximize overall operational efficiency by reallocating human resources to other crucial duties by automating the disinfection process. These robots' dependable and constant disinfection can also lower long-term expenses related to maintenance and cleaning supplies.

[0009] To sum up, the advantages of using mobile robots for disinfection include better cleaning consistency, increased efficacy and coverage, labor and cost savings, and safety. However, due to the increasing demand for strict cleanliness standards, there is still a need for an improved disinfection process using the said mobile robots.

[0010] China Patent Application CN112247990A discloses a small-sized disinfection robot having an omnidirectional mobile general chassis, a spraying disinfection device, a sensor unit, and a control system module. This robot has the function of spraying disinfectant while moving autonomously in an omnidirectional manner. However, this robot lacks the function of focusing the disinfection unit on a targeted position or object via the use of a specialized robot arm.

[0011] US Patent US9352469B2 discloses a robotic platform having a disinfection unit configured to disinfect a technical area. The said robot comprises a disinfection module having a plurality of UV emitters and an articulating arm with an actuator that can direct the disinfection emissions. The robot also comprises a drive mechanism configured to move the robot platform. However, the said robot only comprises a position determination device for determining the position data of the robot platform and lacks advanced means for path planning and obstacle avoidance.

[0012] To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention discloses a mobile robot for disinfecting a targeted object or area comprising at least one sensor, disinfection unit, external control panel, and a control module configured to optimize the mobile robot's use. Moreover, the mobile robot utilizes the combination of UV radiation and liquid disinfectant-based disinfection process.

[0013] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The object of the present invention is to provide a mobile robot for disinfecting an object or an area using a control module configured to perform complex tasks such as path planning and obstacle avoidance while ensuring an efficient disinfection process using UV radiation and liquid disinfectants.

[0015] This invention also provides a mobile robot that can autonomously detect objects or locations that need disinfection through the use of sensors.

[0016] Furthermore, this invention provides capabilities such as broadcast / dispersed UV-C light and disinfectant solution to disinfect the surrounding air and surfaces; targeted / directed UV-C light and disinfectant solution using a robot arm for areas, surfaces, and objects that are normally touched, such as tabletops, chairs, keyboards, mouse, or doorknobs; autonomous navigation and mapping of publicly used spaces; safety features like warning lights, sounds and emergency stop; and application for control, visualization, and configuration of the mobile robot.

[0017] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The present invention relates to a mobile robot for disinfecting an object or an area, comprising a base; an at least one sensor disposed on at least one area of said base and configured to identify at least one target area and detect motion within the said target area; an at least one disinfection unit disposed on at least another area of said base and configured to discharge an at least one disinfectant within said target area; an at least one external control panel having an at least one display unit on said base and configured to display and can be operated by at least one application for controlling the said mobile robot; an at least one mobility means mounted on a lower area of said base and configured to initiate movement of the mobile robot around said target area; and an at least one control module mounted on an encased area in the base and is operatively connected to the at least one sensor, the at least one disinfection unit, the at least one external control panel, and the at least one mobility means.

[0019] In the second aspect of this invention, the disinfection unit of the mobile robot comprises at least one lighting unit and at least one discharging unit, wherein the said at least one lighting unit being configured to emit UV-C radiation within said targeted / dispersed area, and the said at least one discharging unit being configured to spray the at least one disinfectant within said targeted / dispersed area. In the third aspect of this invention, the at least one sensor of the mobile robot is selected from the group comprising a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) unit, time-of-flight (ToF) sensors, ultrasonic sensor, camera, depth camera, stereo camera, visual simultaneous localization and mapping (VSLAM) camera, structured-light sensor, embedded vision module, infrared sensor, inertial measurement unit (IMU), gyroscope, bump sensor, contact sensor, optical flow sensor, depth sensor, global positioning system (GPS), near field communication (NFC) unit, radio frequency identification (RFID) unit, radio frequency (RF) sensor, environmental sensor, cliff sensor, dirt detection sensor, optical encoders, wall following sensor, line following sensor, floor tracking sensor, or combinations thereof.

[0020] In the fourth aspect of this invention, the mobile robot further comprises an at least one audible alarm and an at least one visual alarm mounted on said base and are operatively connected to said at least one control module, wherein the said at least one audible alarm and the at least one visual alarm are configured to deliver notifications regarding possible statuses or conditions such as those of the mobile robot, the environment, or of the disinfection process to an at least one user.

[0021] In the fifth aspect of this invention, the mobile robot further comprises an emergency switch mounted on the external control panel and operatively connected to said control module, wherein the said emergency switch being configured to bypass current operation of the mobile robot.

[0022] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0023] The accompanying drawings, which are included to understand the present invention further, are incorporated herein to illustrate the embodiments of the present invention. Along with the description, they also explain the principle of the present invention and are not intended to be limiting. In the drawings:

[0024] FIG. 1 presents a block diagram of a mobile robot according to the preferred embodiments of the invention; and

[0025] FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of the mobile robot according to the preferred embodiments of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The present invention relates to a mobile robot for disinfecting an object or an area.

[0027] FIG. 1 presents a block diagram of a mobile robot according to the preferred embodiments of the invention. The mobile robot 100 comprises at least one sensor 101, at least one disinfection unit 102, an external control panel 103, a control module 104, at least one communications unit 105, at least one power supply 106, at least one notifications unit 107, and at least one emergency switch 108.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the mobile robot 100 communicates with at least one cloud or remote server 115, other mobile robot / s 116, and or at least one third-party device 117 via at least one communications unit 105.

[0029] The mobile robot 100 comprises at least one sensor 101 for detecting and acquiring environment data where the mobile robot 100 operates or is deployed. Though in some cases, it is preferred that the mobile robot's internal condition is monitored such as the acquisition of the mobile robot's battery level, operating temperature, location, and position, for example. In this regard, at least one sensor 101 can be an at least one navigation sensor, connected to the control module 104 for acquiring internal mobile robot status, environment data, and / or navigation data. The internal status includes battery level, voltage level, an operation status, a memory capacity level, a network connection status, or combinations thereof. The external condition includes temperature, humidity, vibration, pressure, shocks, load, proximity, image, or combinations thereof. To acquire environment data, the mobile robot's 100 sensor 101 can be an at least one environment sensor. The at least one environment sensor can then be at least one temperature sensor, humidity sensor, air quality sensor, pressure sensor, light or ambient light sensor, vibration sensor, power sensor, network connectivity sensor, network speed sensor, electromagnetic interference sensor (EMI) sensor, or combinations thereof. The navigation data includes at least the location data, global positioning system (GPS) coordinates, logistics data, movement data of the mobile robot, or combinations thereof. Sensor 101 can be a GPS receiver, accelerometer, gyroscope, tilt sensor, magnetometer, inertial measurement unit, computer vision enabled device, light detection and ranging (Lidar), or combinations thereof. These sensors enable the mobile robot 100 to detect obstacles, plan routes, monitor location or coordinates (latitude, longitude, altitude), or track the movement of the said mobile robot 100.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, mobile robot 100 uses the at least one sensor 101 to identify the target object or location that needs disinfection or isolation. The target object or location can then be publicly used spaces such as working area, computer or workstation, office tables and chairs, doors or office entrance, office wares such as bags, pencils, documents, papers, or combinations thereof. Once identified, the mobile robot 100 can then perform the disinfection process while always ensuring human safety.

[0031] To ensure an efficient and effective operation of the mobile robot 100, it is preferred that the said at least one sensor 101 is selected from the group comprising a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) unit, ultrasonic sensor, camera, depth camera, visual simultaneous localization and mapping (VSLAM) camera, infrared sensor, inertial measurement unit (IMU), gyroscope, bump sensor, contact sensor, optical flow sensor, depth sensor, global positioning system (GPS), near field communication (NFC) unit, radio frequency identification (RFID) unit, radio frequency (RF) sensor, environmental sensor, cliff sensor, dirt detection sensor, optical encoders, wall following sensor, line following sensor, floor tracking sensor, or combinations thereof.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the sensor 101 is configured to detect human presence. This is an added safety feature due to the hazardous nature of the mobile robot's 100 operation. It is preferred that the mobile robot's 100 disinfection process is halted when a human is detected within the operating area of the mobile robot 100. It is also conceivable that this feature also includes the detection of other living creatures which can be harmed by the disinfection process. In these cases, the mobile robot 100 can alert the surrounding via the notification unit 107 by providing a visual and audible alarm before performing the disinfection process. The visual or audible alarm requests the nearby humans to immediately vacate the area. The mobile robot 100 consequently checks via the sensor 101 if the surrounding area is safe before commencing the disinfection process. If human activity is still present in the area, the mobile robot ceases its operation, returns to a designated station, and stands by for further instructions. Preferably, the mobile robot 100 sends a notification to an at least one user, controller, and / or handler when performing the detection of human presence.

[0033] The mobile robot 100 comprises at least one disinfection unit 102 is configured to discharge an at least one disinfectant within a target area or the location where the mobile robot 100 operates or is deployed. The at least one disinfection unit 102 preferably comprises at least one lighting unit 109 and at least one discharging unit 110 which provides a hybrid disinfection mechanism utilizing a bicomponent synergistic approach in the disinfection process. The lighting unit 109 is configured to emit radiation, preferably UV-C radiation, within the said target area. The at least one discharging unit being configured to spray the at least one disinfectant within the said target area or the location where the mobile robot 100 operates or is deployed. Preferably, the disinfectant is in a gaseous or liquified form that is suitable for an effective dispersion in an area. It is conceivable that the at least one discharging unit 110 is an outlet or nozzle with varying degree of dispersion in which in some cases can be focused in a targeted location depending on the preferred usage or as determined by a user or an operator. It is also preferred that the disinfection unit 102 comprises static and / or dynamic parts in which the lighting unit 109 and / or the discharging unit 110 are stationed in strategic locations around the base or body of the mobile robot 100. The lighting unit 109 and / or the discharging unit 110 can also be positioned in substantially omnidirectional manner to maximize the disinfection coverage of the mobile robot 100. Though it is more preferred that the disinfection unit 102 is located in at least one dynamic part such as an at least one robot arm of the mobile robot 100. This allows more degrees of freedom and enables remote control of the disinfection process by a user. It is conceivable that the lighting unit 109 and / or the discharging unit 110 are attached to the said robot arm.

[0034] The mobile robot 100 comprises an external control panel 103 for controlling the said mobile robot 100, and / or display at least the status of the mobile robot 100 via an at least one display unit 111. In this case, the external control panel 103 act as a driver for the managing the operation of the said display unit 111.

[0035] The mobile robot 100 preferably comprises at least one display unit lilthat are configured to allow interaction between the mobile robot 100 and at least one user. The display unit 111 can be an input device, an input / output device or a display / input device which may include simple analog buttons, a system of switches, digital display, liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode (LED) display, or a multi-point touch input screen.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment, the display unit 111 provides access to a web service from a cloud or remote server 115. In other cases, the cloud or remote server 115 can be accessed to operate the mobile robot 100. In both of these scenarios, the user is allowed to configure, troubleshoot, control, or operate the mobile robot 100 via an interface where the cloud or remote server 115 is accessed.

[0037] In another preferred embodiment, the display unit 111 is also used by the user to perform onsite interaction with the mobile robot 100 especially in cases when the mobile robot 100 needs user intervention such as hardware testing or checks which includes LCD display tests, status LEDs test, selection buttons test, or emergency switch tests, for example. In other cases, a web interface test can also be performed through the display unit 111 which includes status dashboard test and configuration page test.

[0038] The mobile robot 100 comprises a control module 104 for processing the operations relating to the application of the mobile robot 100 such as the acquisition of data by the sensor 101 and the mobile robot's mobility including path planning, route optimization, and the disinfection process, for example. The control module 104 can then be any microcontroller, microprocessor, or any hardware device capable of processing data, issuing instructions, or executing calculations associated to the operations of the said mobile robot 100. It is conceivable that the at least one control module 104 is operatively connected to the at least one sensor 101, the at least one disinfection unit 102, the at least one external control panel 103, and the at least one mobility means.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the control module 104 of the mobile robot 100 performs an at least one path planning and obstacle avoidance algorithm. This functionality ensures that the mobile robot 100 has an optimized navigation in performing the disinfection process, preferably in an indoor environment. This also ensures that the mobile robot 100 avoids collision with static and dynamic obstacles. The said path planning and obstacle avoidance algorithm is performed using the at least one sensor 101 preferably using light detection and ranging (LiDAR), ultrasonic sensors, inertial measurement unit (IMU), and at least one camera. The use of the LiDAR can help in the real-time mapping of the environment where the mobile robot 100 operates and detects obstacles within a predefined range. The ultrasonic sensors detect the obstacles that are located in a close range while also provides redundancy in obstacle avoidance and enhances the safety of the mobile robot 100 and the surrounding environment during the navigation of the mobile robot 100. The sensor 101 can also be an IMU that is used to monitor the mobile robot's 100 orientation and acceleration, while also aids in the stabilization and correction of the mobile robot's 100 path. It is preferred that the mobile robot 100 comprises at least one camera for the visual recognition of objects, obstacles, and landmarks. This enables a more targeted or specialized disinfection process wherein the mobile robot 100 searches for a specific target object and disinfects the said target object. The camera can also assist the mobile robot 100 in both obstacle avoidance and path planning.

[0040] In another preferred embodiment, the control module 104 of the mobile robot 100 performs an at least one advanced processing means such as intelligent systems, predictive algorithm, artificial neural networks, fuzzy logic, genetic algorithm, machine learning, deep learning, or combinations thereof. This then further improves the operation of the mobile robot 100 particularly the disinfection process performance by optimizing the dispersion volume, wavelength of the UV or lighting unit 109, for example.

[0041] The mobile robot 100 preferably performs an at least one path planning algorithm via an at least one control module 104. The path planning algorithm can be chosen from A-Star algorithm, dynamic window approach (DWA), probabilistic roadmap (PRM), RRT (Rapidly- exploring Random Tree), Dijkstra's Algorithm, Theta-Star, or combinations thereof. The A-Star algorithm can be used for the mobile robot's 100 path planning where the control module 104 computes for the most efficient route starting from the mobile robot's 100 current location to a target destination as specified by the user or autonomously determined by the system through sensors. In this algorithm, the control module 104 uses a known map of the environment that is generated by the sensor 101 preferably via LiDAR to identify the shortest and safest path. In some cases, the mobile robot 100 uses a dynamic window approach (DWA) to adjust its trajectory or route based in the real time navigation data or the proximity of the obstacles in the mobile robot's 100 path. DWA calculates the possible velocities and trajectories of the said obstacles and adjusts the mobile robot's 100 route accordingly. In other cases, the mobile robot 100 utilizes, via the control module 104, a probabilistic roadmap (PRM) for path planning especially in environments where there is a high degree of uncertainty or dynamic obstacles. By using PRM, the control module 104 generates a graph of possible paths via the random sampling of the mobile robot's 100 operating environment to form a route data. The mobile robot 100 uses PRM to select the most efficient path based also on the real time route data as acquired by sensor 101.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment, the control module 104 of the mobile robot 100 performs an at least one obstacle avoidance algorithm. This functionality ensures that the mobile robot 100 has an optimized navigation in performing the disinfection process. The at least one obstacle avoidance algorithm can be chosen from reactive obstacle avoidance, predictive obstacle avoidance, path replanning, or combinations thereof. In using the reactive obstacle avoidance algorithm, the mobile robot 100 continuously processes data acquired by the sensors 101 to detect nearby obstacles via the control module 104. When an obstacle is detected, the mobile robot 100 evaluates potential avoidance action such as stopping, deceleration, or changing direction. The mobile robot 100 then chooses the best avoidance action based on the current situation. In some cases, the mobile robot 100 performs a predictive avoidance algorithm via the control module 104 using a combination of the data acquired by the sensors 101 and at least one predictive algorithm. In these cases, the mobile robot 100 anticipates the movement of the dynamic obstacles such as the people around the target disinfection area or other nearby mobile robots 116. By using the predictive avoidance algorithm, the mobile robot 100 predicts the future positions of the obstacles and adjusts its path accordingly to prevent collisions. In other cases, the mobile robot's 100 predetermined path may be completely blocked by an obstacle. In this scenario, the mobile robot 100 via the control module 104 performs a path replanning process using at least one global path planning algorithm for calculating a new path towards the mobile robot's 100 target destination while taking into consideration the data acquired by the sensor 101 preferably in real time.

[0043] The mobile robot 100 comprises at least one communications unit 105, connected to the control module 104, for exchanging data from the mobile robot 100 to an at least one cloud or remote server 115, other mobile robot / s 116, and or at least one third-party device 117. The communications unit 105 can be any transmitter, receiver, or transceiver used for long range (LoRa) modulation, radio frequency (RF), wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, infrared, near field communication (NFC), visible light communication, microwave communication, satellite communication, Li-Fi, WiMax, ZigBee, cellular communication, code division multiple access (CDMA), 2G, global system for mobiles (GSM), 3G, 4G, long term evolution (LTE), long term evolution advanced (LTE-advanced), 5G, 5.5G, 6G, any other wireless communications protocol, or combinations thereof.

[0044] The mobile robot 100 comprises at least one power supply 106 for supplying electrical energy to the mobile robot 100, wherein the power supply 106 can be at least one battery or at least one energy storage device such as a capacitor. The battery and / or the energy storage device can preferably be charged via DC power source or via a solar panel, for example. This enables the mobile robot 100 to operate in a continuous manner in long operating hours.

[0045] The mobile robot 100 comprises at least one notifications unit 107 for providing alert or alarm to at least one user in a remote location or within the surrounding area of the mobile robot 100. The at least one notification unit 107 can be an at least one audible alarm 113 and / or an at least one visual alarm 114 mounted on the base or body of the mobile robot 100 and are operatively connected to the at least one control module 104. The said at least one audible alarm 113 and / or the at least one visual alarm 114 are preferably configured to deliver notifications regarding status of disinfection process to an at least one user.

[0046] Preferably, the at least one audible alarm 113 and / or an at least one visual alarm 114 uses standard warning lights and alarm sounds such as emergency lights having a combination of red and blue colors. This is because red lights are associated with urgency and the combination of red and blue lights address the accessibility problems with colorblindness. Moreover, the red and blue lights are easily seen in both brightly lit and low-light environments. Preferably, the default siren alarm is used by the at least one audible alarm 113 of the mobile robot 100.

[0047] The mobile robot 100 comprises at least one emergency switch 108 which acts as a safety mechanism and is configured to bypass current operation of the mobile robot 100. The said switch 108 can be an analog button, toggle switch, electromechanical relay switch, push button, or an RFID-enabled switch that provides a simple way of stopping the mobile robot 100 in continuing its operation. Preferably, the emergency switch 108 is mounted on the base or body of the mobile robot 100 or is mounted on the external control panel. It is conceivable that the said switch 108 is electrically coupled or operatively connected to the control module 104.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, the emergency switch 108 takes precedence over any command or procedure upon execution and will cease all operations of the mobile robot 100. This will render the mobile robot 100 immobile and unable to take any further commands until a hard reset is executed. The emergency stop shall be located in at least the hardware emergency stop button directly on the body of the mobile robot 100, the software emergency stop command via a controller, and / or a software emergency stop command via at least one application.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of the mobile robot according to the preferred embodiments of the invention. The mobile robot 100 comprises a body or base 200, at least one mobility means 201, at least one robot arm 202, and at least one rotating portion 203.

[0050] The body or base 200 of the mobile robot 100 can also be referred to as a chassis, enclosure, or casing which provides protection to the internal components of the mobile robot such as, but is not limited to, the control module, communications unit, power supply, and / or disinfection tank. Preferably, the body 200 is made of a durable or sturdy material which can also be water resistant or waterproof. The body 200 also provides a framework or skeletal structure which holds the parts of the mobile robot 100 or where the parts of the mobile robot 100 are adhered. It is preferred that at least one sensor 101, 101a, 101b, 101c is disposed on at least one area of said body or base 200. The disinfection unit 102 can be attached to the robot arm 202 along with the lighting unit 109a and the discharging unit 110a. In some cases, the disinfection unit or the discharging unit 110b is disposed on at least another area of the said body or base 200. The lighting unit 109b can also be disposed on a part or portion of the body or base 200. The external control panel such as at least one display unit 111 can be mounted on an area of the base 200 or on the upper area of the body or base 200 while the at least one mobility means 201 preferably mounted on a lower area of said base 200 to initiate movement of the mobile robot 100. It is conceivable that the at least one control module is mounted on an encased area in the body or base 200. It is also preferred that the at least one notifications unit 107 and / or the at least one emergency switch 108 is disposed on an area of the body or base 200 that is easily accessible to a user.

[0051] The mobile robot 100 comprises at least one mobility means 201 preferably a plurality of wheels that allow the movement of the mobile robot 100. In some cases, the mobile robot 100 can use tracked mobility such as caterpillar tracks that provide good traction and stability on rough or uneven terrains. The mobility means 201 can also be legged mobility wherein legs are used for the movement of the mobile robot 100.

[0052] The mobile robot 100 comprises at least one robot arm 202 for performing more complex tasks such as the focusing of the disinfection unit 102 to a specific direction, orientation, or location. By using the said arm 202, the mobile robot 100 can have added functionalities such as picking, placing, and gripping of objects that need to be disinfected or contaminated objects for isolation. Preferably, the robot arm 202 comprises at least one degree of freedom (DOF) to perform the said tasks. In some preferred embodiments, the robot arm 202 comprises at least 6 DOF to act as an articulated robot arm capable of performing precise movements. It is also preferred that the robot arm 202 comprises at least one end effector such as grippers, suction cups, or specialized tools that can be used for disinfecting, cleaning, or holding objects.

[0053] The mobile robot 100 comprises at least one rotating portion 203 configured to be a rotating base for the robot arm 202. In such cases, the rotating portion 203 has a motor capable of rotating 360 degrees in clockwise or counterclockwise manner. This enables a wider spectrum of usage for the mobile robot 100 having the robot arm 202.

[0054] It is contemplated for embodiments described herein to extend to individual elements and concepts described herein, independently of other concepts, ideas or system, as well as for embodiments to include combinations of elements recited anywhere in this application. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. As such, many variations and modifications will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. Illustrative embodiments such as those depicted refer to a preferred form but are not limited to its constraints and are subject to modification and alternative forms. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents. Moreover, it is contemplated that a feature described either individually or as part of an embodiment may be combined with other individually described features, or parts of other embodiments, even if the other features and embodiments make no mention of the said feature. Hence, the absence of describing combinations should not preclude the inventor from claiming rights to such combinations.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A mobile robot (100) for disinfecting an object or an area, comprising:- a base (200);- an at least one sensor (101) disposed on at least one area of said base (200) and configured to identify at least one target area and detect motion within the said target area;- an at least one disinfection unit (102) disposed on at least another area of said base (200) and configured to discharge an at least one disinfectant within said target area;- an at least one external control panel (103) having an at least one display unit (lll)on said base (200) and configured to control the said mobile robot (100) via an application;- an at least one mobility means (201) preferably mounted on a lower area of said base (200) and configured to initiate movement of the mobile robot (100) around said target area; and- an at least one control module (104) mounted on an encased area in the base (200) and is operatively connected to the at least one sensor (101), the at least one disinfection unit (102), the at least one external control panel (103), and the at least one mobility means (201).

2. The mobile robot according to claim 1, wherein the at least one disinfection unit (102) comprises at least one lighting unit (109) and at least one discharging unit (110), wherein the said at least one lighting unit (109) being configured to emit UV-C radiation within said target area, and the said at least one discharging unit (110) being configured to spray the at least one disinfectant within said target area.

3. The mobile robot according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor (101) is selected from the group comprising of light detection and ranging (LiDAR) unit, ultrasonic sensor, camera, depth camera, visual simultaneous localization and mapping (VSLAM) camera, infrared sensor, inertial measurement unit (IMU), gyroscope, bump sensor, contact sensor, optical flow sensor, depth sensor, global positioning system (GPS), near field communication(NFC) unit, radio frequency identification (RFID) unit, radio frequency (RF) sensor, environmental sensor, cliff sensor, dirt detection sensor, optical encoders, wall following sensor, line following sensor, floor tracking sensor, or combinations thereof.

4. The mobile robot according to claim 1, further comprising an at least one notification unit (107) having an at least one audible alarm (113) and an at least one visual alarm (114) mounted on said base (200) and are operatively connected to said at least one control module (104), wherein the said at least one audible alarm (113) and the at least one visual alarm (114) are configured to deliver notifications regarding status of disinfection process to an at least one user.

5. The mobile robot according to claim 1, further comprising an emergency switch (108) mounted on the external control panel (103) or on the base (200) and operatively connected to the control module (104), wherein the said emergency switch (108) being configured to bypass current operation of the mobile robot (100).

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