Intelligent Sampling of Anterior Human Nasal Swabs using a Collaborative Robotic Arm

Abstract

Advanced robotics does not always have to be associated with Industry 4.0, but can also be applied, for example, in the Smart Hospital concept. Developments in this field have been driven by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and any improvement in the work of medical staff is welcome. In this paper, an experimental robotic platform was designed and implemented whose main function is the swabbing samples from the nasal vestibule. The robotic platform represents a complete integration of software and hardware, where the operator has access to a web-based application and can control a number of functions. The increased safety and collaborative approach cannot be overlooked. The result of this work is a functional prototype of the robotic platform that can be further extended, for example, by using alternative technologies, extending patient safety, or clinical tests and studies. Code is available at https://github.com/Steigner/Robo_Medicinae_I