In Finland, they came up with a sneezing robot for testing masks
(ORDO NEWS) — In Finland, they spent about 300 thousand euros to create a robotic human head to study the spread of coronavirus through the air. It is planned, in particular, to clarify the efficiency of using different types of masks and air-purifying filters. The newspaper gives details.
Finland has developed a special robot to study the spread of coronavirus through the air. The composition and size of the droplets and aerosols “exhaled” by the robotic head can be precisely determined and reproduced again – such accuracy cannot be achieved in human studies. The robot was assembled as part of a joint project between the University of Tampere and the Finnish Health and Social Development Agency (THL).
The robot will help you study the effectiveness of using different types of masks and air purifying filters. When coughing, sneezing and breathing, the robotic human head forms drops and aerosols of a certain size and composition.
The robot is located in a special testing room at the VTT State Research Center. During the experiments, external factors such as temperature and humidity are closely monitored, VTT said in a press release.
“With the help of a special device, we can achieve a certain size of aerosols, which will be comparable to the aerosols exhaled by a person when sneezing and coughing,” explains Topi Rönkkö, Associate Professor of Aerophysics at Tampere University.
The measurements taken during the experiments with the robot will be used to improve the computer simulation programs. The VTT Research Center, the University of Tampere and the Finnish Health and Social Development Agency (THL) are studying the mechanisms of droplet and aerosol contamination and how to reduce the risk of contamination.
Cough and sneeze droplets dry quickly, but microscopic particles can remain in the air for several hours. Also, small aerosols are formed during breathing, speaking and, for example, singing. Business Finland has allocated about 300 thousand euros for the project.
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