A Cloud-based System for the Integration of Ultraviolet Light Devices to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19

目前，紫外线杀菌正在成为一种快速增长的和宝贵的选择，用于表面和工作场所的消毒，而不是手动解决方案，因为它不是湿的，不会留下残留物。虽然紫外线被用于医院和食品制造商，但它几乎没有被考虑用于零售店、餐馆、教室、医务室等，因为很难确定哪种紫外线灭菌设备是该设施的正确选择。例如，医院级移动紫外线消毒系统每个机器人的成本在5万美元到9万美元之间，这对一些小企业来说太贵了。在线销售的手持紫外线设备不被照明工程学会(IES)推荐，因为它们对新冠肺炎没有效果，而且处理紫外线应该在更受控制的环境中进行。此外，基于紫外线的消毒系统需要根据空间布局、大小、光线强度、曝光时间进行优化，这需要专家进行评估和优化。在这个研究项目中，我们将与ASM Innovation Inc.和Qponics Biotech Inc.合作，设计和开发一个基于云的系统，集成不同类型的UV设备(UV机器人、智能灯具UV灯泡等)。在环境中作为一个系统。建议的解决方案采用人工智能(AI)机制，根据位置变量(例如，房间的大小、几何形状、布局、类型)优化UV设备的选择及其操作。此外，由于计算是在云系统上进行的，预计它将比现有解决方案更便宜。考虑到我们面临着为公共场所消毒和为加拿大人创造安全环境的大量工作，拟议的解决方案将有助于加拿大提高其对抗新冠肺炎的技术能力。此外，考虑到巨大的国际需求，加拿大需要这项技术在这一领域具有国际竞争力。最后，拟议的系统可能会减少与医疗保健相关的感染及其后果，包括健康并发症、死亡和额外成本。

Currently, UV sterilization is becoming a fast-growing and invaluable option for disinfecting surfaces and workplaces over manual solutions because it is not wet and does not leave behind residue. While it is used in hospitals and food manufactures, UV is hardly considered for retails shops, restaurants, classrooms, medical offices, etc. because it is confusing to figure out which UV sterilization device is the right choice for the facility. For example, hospital-grade mobile UV sterilizing systems can cost anywhere between $50,000 and $90,000 US per robot, which is too expensive for some small businesses. Handheld UV devices sold online are not recommended by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) because they are not effective against COVID-19, and the handling of UV should be done in a more controlled environment. Also, UV-based disinfection systems need to be optimized according to space layout, size, the intensity of the light, exposure time, which require specialist assessment and optimization. In this research project, we will work with ASM Innovations Inc. and Qponics Biotechnology Inc. to design and develop a cloud-based system that integrates different types of UV devices (UV robots, smart fixture UV bulbs, etc.) in the environment as one system. The proposed solution employs Artificial Intelligent (AI) mechanisms to optimize the choice of UV devices and their operation according to the location variables (e.g., size, geometry, layout, type of rooms). Furthermore, it is expected to be cheaper than existing solutions because the computations are carried on the cloud system. The proposed solution will help Canada to ramp up its technological capacity to fight COVID-19 considering the tremendous amount of work ahead of us to disinfect public spaces and create safe environments for Canadians. Furthermore, considering the huge international demand, Canada needs this technology to be internationally competitive in this area. Finally, the proposed system will potentially reduce healthcare-associated infections and their consequences, including health complications, deaths, and extra costs.