Robots equipped with coronavirus-killing ultraviolet (UV) lights have begun patrolling St Pancras International, one of London’s biggest train stations, in a bid to minimise the risk to travellers. Created by US firm UVD Robots, the mobile, fully autonomous robots are designed to kill viruses and bacteria both on surfaces and in the surrounding air. UV radiation has been shown to damage the genetic material of viruses, hampering their ability to replicate.
St Pancras has deployed the robots in its bathrooms and frequented corridors in order to maximise their effectiveness. Heathrow Airport introduced a similar system in July to boost the confidence of passengers wary about the contagion risk of aviation.