Haptic Telerobot for Pharmaceutical Sterile Manufacturing

Abstract

Shadow Robot has been exploring teleoperation and robotics to address the crisis now or better prepare for any catastrophes in the future. Vaccine and drug manufacturing is a key part in the healthcare supply chain and currently the pharmaceutical industry across the world is extremely stretched to meet this need. While the big pharma companies like Pfizer, AstraZeneca, etc., are aggressively researching to come up with a vaccine for COVID-19 at the earliest, almost all the pharma companies world-wide are gearing up for **volume production** in the coming months.

The social distancing, quarantine during the pandemic and the already existing Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) regulations only allow limited workforce in PPE at any given time. **Therefore technologies that can aid new ways of working, allow adaptable and efficient scale-up of manufacturing are key contributors in the healthcare supply chain.**

With teleoperation, critical workers can perform intricate lab tasks at a safe and comfortable distance - without physically being in a lab. This reduces the contamination, the risks to workers and keeps the labs sterile. Shadow with inputs from Pfizer would carry out the technology development that can **contribute to adaptable and efficient manufacturing in the pharmaceutical industry for future pandemic requirements**.

Lead Participant

Project Cost

Grant Offer

THE SHADOW ROBOT COMPANY LIMITED £732,533 £ 586,026
 

Participant

INNOVATE UK

Publications

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