TY - JOUR
T1 - Design and Performance Evaluation of a Modular Mobile Robot for Autonomous Hospital Logistics
AU - Dei, Neri Niccolò
AU - Gandah, Simona
AU - Spreafico, Giorgia
AU - Firrincieli, Ándrea
AU - Ros, Raquel Juliá
AU - Estevan, Víctor Solaz
AU - Soriano, Angel
AU - Di Luzio, Francesco Scotto
AU - Tagliamonte, Nevio Luigi
AU - Papakostas, Lampis
AU - Karamousadakis, Michalis
AU - Medrano-Gil, Alejandro
AU - Del Río-Martín, Javier
AU - Lolis, Vasileios
AU - Votis, Konstantinos
AU - Soriano, Pilar Sala
AU - Simón, Jordi Rovira
AU - Kardas, Przemysław
AU - Lewek, Paweł
AU - Timler, Dariusz
AU - Sanz, Laura Llorente
AU - De Vicente-Arche, Jorge Nieto
AU - Haitjema, Saskia
AU - Hoefer, Imo
AU - Guillen, Sergio
AU - Gutierrez, German
AU - Pecchia, Leandro
AU - Zollo, Loredana
AU - Fico, Giuseppe
AU - Chiurazzi, Marcello
AU - Ciuti, Gastone
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2004-2012 IEEE.
PY - 2026/3/23
Y1 - 2026/3/23
N2 - Hospital logistics can significantly benefit from autonomous robotic technologies capable of alleviating personnel workload, reducing operational costs, and streamlining internal workflows. This paper introduces HOSBOT (HOSpital roBOT), a modular and cost-effective robotic system designed to enhance hospital logistics and workflow management through autonomous missions and real-time monitoring of transported items. HOSBOT combines a commercially available autonomous mobile robot with a customisable non-motorised cart, the SmartRack, which accommodates standalone, sensorised SmartBoxes equipped with Radio Frequency IDentification technology. This paper describes the overall design of HOSBOT, including its mechanical, electrical, and software interfaces. The system has been validated in three pilot experiments in real hospital environments across Europe, demonstrating good levels of acceptability, usability and efficacy. This innovative robotic solution highlights the potential for scalable integration of autonomous mobile robots in healthcare and other indoor logistics settings.
AB - Hospital logistics can significantly benefit from autonomous robotic technologies capable of alleviating personnel workload, reducing operational costs, and streamlining internal workflows. This paper introduces HOSBOT (HOSpital roBOT), a modular and cost-effective robotic system designed to enhance hospital logistics and workflow management through autonomous missions and real-time monitoring of transported items. HOSBOT combines a commercially available autonomous mobile robot with a customisable non-motorised cart, the SmartRack, which accommodates standalone, sensorised SmartBoxes equipped with Radio Frequency IDentification technology. This paper describes the overall design of HOSBOT, including its mechanical, electrical, and software interfaces. The system has been validated in three pilot experiments in real hospital environments across Europe, demonstrating good levels of acceptability, usability and efficacy. This innovative robotic solution highlights the potential for scalable integration of autonomous mobile robots in healthcare and other indoor logistics settings.
KW - RFID
KW - collaborative robots
KW - digital health
KW - hospital logistics
KW - mobile robots
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105034445970
U2 - 10.1109/TASE.2026.3674356
DO - 10.1109/TASE.2026.3674356
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105034445970
SN - 1545-5955
VL - 23
SP - 7748
EP - 7763
JO - IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering
JF - IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering
ER -