Those squat disinfecting robots that zap deadly pathogens seem to have more personality than expected.
The robots from manufacturer Xenex Disinfection Services—one of the top sellers in the category—arrive already named by the company, but most hospitals redub the little fellas.
Thing 1, Thing 2, Thing 3 and Thing 4, named after characters in The Cat in the Hat, roam the halls of Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, Mass. A tough 'bot named Saul handles disinfection at U.S. Air Force Hospital in Langley, Va. And then there's Shelby and Lacy at Santa Barbara (Calif.) Cottage Hospital.
Riverside Regional Medical Center in Virginia even published an interview with Albert, the Newport News hospital's first robot. The friendly robot listed some of his accomplishments: disinfecting 5,201 rooms in one year and fewer MRSA and Clostridium difficile cases. He also revealed his birthday is April 18 and shared some of his favorite songs, including “You Light Up My Life” and “Jumpin' Jack Flash.”
But apparently, Albert was lonely. The hospital recently hosted the marriage of Albert and its newest robot, Annie.
