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Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we have all been trying to stay safe. The Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which has 71,000 seating capacity is claiming to be the first professional sports venue to use disinfecting drones to ensure the safety of people who will watch upcoming games. 

On October 11, the Atlanta Falcons will play against the Carolina Panthers at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which will welcome a limited number of fans to watch the game.

Lucid Drone Technologies, a startup based in Charlott, North Carolina provided a pair of disinfecting drones to the Mercedez-Benz Stadium.

The two drones will be flying all around the stadium to disinfect the fan's seats and other areas where there is the potential for infection. The purpose-built machines use 4 electrostatic spraying nozzles to send out nontoxic chemicals.

The Lucid disinfecting drones are reminiscent of the EHang firefighting drones. With a few important differences.

Rather than conventional pressure-spray nozzles, the stadium drones are equipped with positive-charged nozzles. This helps ensure a wider spray area of the disinfectant.  These disinfectants will then be attracted to all negatively-charged surfaces. Surfaces already covered with the disinfectant will repel the spray, making for a very efficient. 

Mercedez-Benz Stadium claimed that the disinfecting drones will reduce the time and staff required to clean the area by 95%. The drones will also focus on disinfecting handrails, seats, glass partitions, and other surfaces.

AI technology uses drones and robots to disinfect

As we reopen community spaces during the pandemic, remote cleaning solutions are being implemented to help minimize the coronavirus. Disinfecting public areas efficiently also helps cleaning staff to remain socially distanced.

In May, the Pittsburgh International Airport rolled out a UV-cleaning robot. Many hospitals are deploying disinfecting robots and mobile remote-controlled Ultraviolet Disinfection (UV) units. These robots use ultraviolet lights to disinfect porous and non-porous surfaces without toxic chemicals.  

Mercedez-Benz  Stadium said the drones are just one part of the equation. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is now saying that disinfecting surfaces helps only in cases where surface transmission is an issue and it isn’t thought to be the primary way the virus spreads. COVID-19 is believed to be mostly spread through airborne transmission. Practicing social distancing and wearing a mask are important policies.

Officials at AMB Sports and Entertainment (AMBSE), the owner of the Falcons, have always indicated that they will require mask if fans are present whenever the team plays.

Coronavirus safety requirements inside the Mercedes-Benz Stadium include limited capacity, mandatory masks, and 600 hand sanitizing dispensers throughout the facility.  When fans return, the stadium plans to enforce a six-feet distancing rule between seated groups.

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