Table 2.1.

Prominent AI functions found across robotic operations during COVID-19 lockdown

Applications	Extra AI techniques	Purposes
Sanitizing robots	Target identification by specific object recognition [27]; Optimization between coverage and intensity [28]	To guide the movement of the robot, for covering the areas for maximum disinfection. Along the way, the robot will have to recognize objects ahead and avoid colliding them
Blood test robots	Computer vision for NIR and ultrasound imaging [28]; auto venepuncture algorithms [29]	To allow a robot (station) identify the blood veins quickly and insert the needle accurately for efficient blood draw
Hospital triage robots	NLP [30]	To converse with visitors, medical staff and patients, offering them information and directions
Caregiving robots	NLP [30]; Emotional intelligence [31]; Chatbot algorithms [32]; Fall detection [33]	To provide emotional supports through artificial empathy and chatters to patients. It also monitors the safety of the patients at all times
Lockdown patrol UAVs	Human activity recognition [34]; Face recognition [35]; Symptoms identification [36]; Flight path optimization [37]	To assist law enforcement and warning people during pandemic lockdown; the UAVs need to identify distinguish people who are breaking the rules (e.g. gathering, not wearing masks), as well as sick
Delivery UAVs	Flight path optimization [37] Payload delivery optimization [38]	To facilitate unmanned supply delivery via the most optimized route, and ensure the payload is dropped in a safe manner