AI-Driven UV Sanitization System with Targeted Beam Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current UVGI systems are ineffective in controlling the spread of viruses and bacteria in public spaces due to their inability to target specific areas of contamination and potential harm to humans from non-directional UV-C light exposure.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an AI-driven UV sanitization system that uses sensors and machine learning to detect and predict contamination on surfaces, steering focused UV light beams away from humans and towards contaminated areas for real-time sanitization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV-C light is transmitted in all directions to sanitize surfaces, then disinfection coverage is improved, but human exposure to harmful radiation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by directing UV-C radiation specifically to contaminated surfaces rather than broadcasting it omnidirectionally. The system uses sensors to identify contaminated areas and steers UV beams only to those locations, providing localized disinfection that spares humans from unnecessary exposure while maintaining effective sanitation coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sensors and beam-steering mechanisms as intermediaries between the UV-C light source and the environment. These intermediaries detect contamination and control the direction of UV beams, acting as a mediator that enables targeted disinfection while preventing harmful exposure to humans in public spaces.
2Reliability
If UVGI systems sanitize all surfaces in an area, then contamination control is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sanitization task by dividing the environment into contaminated and non-contaminated zones. Rather than treating all surfaces uniformly, the system identifies specific contaminated areas using sensors and applies UV-C treatment only to those segments, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective contamination control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic beam steering that adapts to real-time contamination detection. The UV-C beams are not fixed but can be dynamically redirected to follow contaminated surfaces as people move through the environment, allowing the system to maintain effective sanitation with simpler fixed light sources rather than requiring complex movable sanitation equipment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly reduces the spread of infectious pathogens by ensuring targeted disinfection of high-risk areas while minimizing human exposure to UV radiation, thereby slowing down the transmission of contagious microorganisms in public spaces.
Implementation Method 1
Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is a disinfection method that uses short-wavelength ultraviolet (UV-C) light to kill or inactivate these viruses and bacteria (e.g., microorganisms) by destroying nucleic acids and disrupting their DNA
Data Source
AI summary
Sanitizing a surface, according to the systems, the methods, the computer-readable media, or the techniques described herein, may include obtaining sensor data of the surface; predicting that one or more contaminants are deposited on the surface based at least in part on the sensor data of the surface; and based at least in part on predicting that the one or more contaminants are deposited on the surface, causing a light beam to be steered towards the surface, thereby sanitizing the surface of the one or more contaminants.