By Jackie Snow
Airports and airlines were already looking into high tech devices to make air travel better. Now, the coronavirus has sped that up. Robots that would have wandered around airports for several hours using water and disinfectant have now incorporated UV-C light to kill the virus. This is also good for the human staff because it lets them go to other places that require sanitization. There are also more complex robots that use Roomba like systems to map their routes and avoid obstacles.
Touchless technology sped up lines. Now, they can help prevent virus transmission by reducing the number of times you have to take out your identification and show it to someone. Face recognition that uses unique facial features can identify people even with a mask on, but there are security concerns over the technology. Mobile apps can also be used to help enforce social distancing and do remote check ins.
Health screening with those no-touch thermometers are becoming standard. But because these don't detect non-symptomatic people, there are more advanced technologies that can detect respiration rates and heart rate. They aren't COVID-19 tests, but they are better than the traditional thermometers. Some Chinese airports also have a negative pressure pod that does a 40 second treatment with "'nano needles,' photocatalyst technology, and a sanitizing spray."
Plus, flight attendants have new PPE uniforms. However, many airlines still treat uniforms as a sort of fashion, drawing criticism that valuable supplies are being wasted.
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