IEEE Consumer Electronics Magazine - July/August 2021 - 20

Healthcare Technology
anytime. The data or results collected from
robot sensors can be uploaded to edge, fog,
and cloud via backhaul for storage, processing,
and analysis, which can be utilized by the concerned
authorities such as hospitals, research
organizations, and healthcare and government
institutions. Thus, the network allows to
upload/download, link entities, monitor, and
control the screening process remotely.
4) AI and machine learning (ML):AIand ML can
offer great help in the screening process. For
instance neural networks (NN) specializedmodels
can help in identifying specific patterns
within images and data correlation models.5
Themultimodal data capturedby the robot sensors
are parsed and preprocessed. Then, it can
be given toAI-poweredmodels for vision, object
detection, facial and speech recognition, activity
detection, etc., to validate various social-distancing
norms and test healthparameters.
5) Blockchain: Blockchain is widely being
explored for e-Healthcare systems6 and has
been considered as one of the potential candidates
for recording healthcare data
securely. The blockchain can be used to
record some critical transactions of screening
processes such as suspected cases and
people not following social-distancing norms.
These secure and transparent records on the
blockchain can help authorities to assist people
and take necessary actions. The blockchain
deployment strategies such as public
or private can be decided by the administration.
A suitable consensus mechanism can
also be decided depending on the complexity,
security, and privacy requirements.
Using these technology-driven autonomous
or remotely operated robots for the screening
process can increase the accuracy, efficiency,
and coverage, reduce human-to-human contact
and lower the risk of infection.
TESTING
Currently, most countries recommend collecting
nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal
swabs for initial diagnostic testing for COVID-19.
This diagnostic process involves collecting samples,
handling and transferring samples, and
finally, testing. However, the entire procedure is
20
performed manually, which is not considered to
be appropriate due to the following main factors:
(1) Require personal visits to a hospital, clinic,
laboratory, or mobile lab. These visits pose risks
and expose more people to COVID-19. (2) Lack of
well-trained and qualified staff to collect the
swab, handle it, and process test samples. (3)
The considerable turnaround time of the test
process. (4) The medical staff (with limited protective
gear) are at serious risk of infection.
How the available technologies in forms of
robotics, drones, AI/Ml, and Blockchain can
address COVID-19 testing process-related issues
are summarized as follows.
1) Robots for sample collection:Now,athroat and
nasal swabbing robots are being developed
that can take throat and nasal swabs from suspected
patients.7 These autonomous robots
use cobot arms and an end-effector. The vision
systemhelps the robot identify the right points
to swab in the patient's nasal and throat. Once
the swab is collected, the robot arm places the
sample in a box or jar and close the lid, then
transfer it to a lab for analysis.
2) Autonomous drones or autonomous ground
vehicles for sample transfer to lab: The drones
and autonomous ground vehicles can be
used to transfer samples from the collection
point to the lab for testing.
3) Robots for COVID-19 sample preparation: The
robot, called flowbot ONE, a Danish pipetting
robot helps is automating COVID-19 testing
processes. This robot takes the charge right
after inoculation and automates the entire
task of preparing samples (mixing liquids
and chemicals) for COVID-19 analysis.8
4) Blockchain to record the test details: The blockchain-based
COVID-19 healthcare records can
be adapted to store all the testing details
securely. Once recorded after the consensus,
the details will be immutable and can be
accessed by authenticated entities only. Concerned
authorized agencies can use these
records for further analysis and action. The
blockchain can ensure that the test detail
records are tamper resistance due to its irreversibility
and immutability properties.
Blockchain is in the development phase, and it is
not a complete strategy for COVID-19. There are
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