AT&T (News - Alert) is leveraging its connectivity to aid in the fight against COVID-19, according to recent statements form the company. Recently the company made public two examples of its work: virus-zapping robots in hospitals and grocery stores. Other ongoing in-field examples include connecting pop-up COVID-19 test sites, helping researchers work remotely on a cure, enabling virtual visitations in hospitals and powering telehealth.
COVID-19-zapping bots in hospitals: AT&T said it now provides Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity for XENEX’s coronavirus-killing robots, which are being deployed in new hospitals daily. The San Antonio-based start-up developed the LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robots that use UV light to automate the cleaning of hospital rooms and increase safety for patients and staff – not to mention free up time for overstretched hospital staff. AT&T reportedly is now equipping these robots with IoT connectivity, a new capability that enables XENEX to collect near real-time data on each robot in order to allow predictive and proactive maintenance in order to keep the robots working around the clock as needed during this pandemic. In addition, AT&T’s Global SIM card is enabling XENEX to provide connectivity overseas – XENEX is seeing international demand for the first time due to COVID-19, including in countries like Italy. Full release here: https://about.att.com/story/2020/xenex.html
Virus-killing bots in grocery stores: AT&T also announced it will provide Brain Corp. with AT&T’s cellular connectivity to connect mobile robots that deep clean, sanitize, and scan inventory at grocery stores and retailers worldwide. This will aide in store cleanliness, restocking high-demand items, and merchandising. In the current COVID-19 environment, this means that shopping for food and other essential goods can be a lot safer for grocery and retail employees and shoppers. Full release here: https://about.att.com/story/2020/covid_19_brain_corp.html
Additional details, including photos and videos, are in the full releases, and also in the blog post, here: “These aren’t circuits, but are lifelines in the war against COVID-19”.