A robot capable of carrying out coronavirus swabs without the need for a human nurse on hand is being developed in Denmark.
A 3D-printed arm takes a throat swab and places the sample in a jar, and then a new arm is reprinted for use on the next patient.
The potential breakthrough reduces the danger for nursing staff and medics who currently conduct the test and risk contracting the disease.
"Robotics researchers ... have developed the world's first fully automatic robot capable of carrying out throat swabs for Covid-19, so that healthcare professionals are not exposed to the risk of infection," the University of Southern Denmark said in a statement.
The next step is to develop a prototype into a working product that can be sent into the field and into medical centres around the world.
Thiusius Rajeeth Savarimuthu, the project's leader, is in charge of the team of 10 researchers who have been working around the clock at the university.
"There are prospects in developing a throat swab robot so that robots can take over the swabbing work, both in relation to Covid-19 but also in all future viruses," he said in the statement.
He added: "I was one of the first to be swabbed. It went really well. I'm still sitting here.
"I was surprised at how softly the robot managed to land the swab at the spot in the throat where it was supposed to hit, so it was a huge success."
The researchers now hope to further develop the robot over the next couple of months.
"The plan is that we have a prototype that swabs patients by the end of June, and that the robot is completed and ready for the market this fall when the second Covid-19 wave hits," said Soren Stig, director of Lifeline Robotics, the company set up to build the new robot.
The university added that as international travel begins to recover as pandemic restrictions ease, the robot could be used at borders and airports.
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- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
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- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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Canada
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Top financial tips for graduates
Araminta Robertson, of the Financially Mint blog, shares her financial advice for university leavers:
1. Build digital or technical skills: After graduation, people can find it extremely hard to find jobs. From programming to digital marketing, your early twenties are for building skills. Future employers will want people with tech skills.
2. Side hustle: At 16, I lived in a village and started teaching online, as well as doing work as a virtual assistant and marketer. There are six skills you can use online: translation; teaching; programming; digital marketing; design and writing. If you master two, you’ll always be able to make money.
3. Networking: Knowing how to make connections is extremely useful. Use LinkedIn to find people who have the job you want, connect and ask to meet for coffee. Ask how they did it and if they know anyone who can help you. I secured quite a few clients this way.
4. Pay yourself first: The minute you receive any income, put about 15 per cent aside into a savings account you won’t touch, to go towards your emergency fund or to start investing. I do 20 per cent. It helped me start saving immediately.
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