Germ-zapping robot could support war against Ebola (w/ Video)
Some years ago, when Ebola was not in any global news headlines, researchers presented their paper, "Use of Medical Robotics in Biothreat Situations" to an American Medical Informatics Association symposium where they said that "In biothreat situations, mobile robots have several advantages over humans including: imperviousness to infection; ability to be coated in self-decontaminating surfaces; 24-hour availability; and the ability to serve as a virtual telepresence and communication conduit for one or more participants. In the case of new biothreats, mobile robots could carry some of the burden that falls upon clinicians including: collecting lab specimens, delivering medications and meals, transporting bio-hazardous materials and biological waste."