Two students in Quang Tri successfully developed an automatic Covid-19 testing sample collection robot at a cost of approximately 20 million VND.
Recently, the Department of Education and Training of Quang Tri Province organized the Provincial Science and Technology Competition for high school students for the 2021-2022 school year. The competition featured dozens of projects from participating students. Among them, the “Covid-19 Testing Sample Collection Robot” created by two students, Tran Quoc Hung (born in 2005, residing in Quarter 3, Dong Thanh Ward, Dong Ha City) and Thai Viet Y (born in 2005, residing in Gio My Commune, Gio Linh District), received high praise from the judges, winning first place and being selected to compete at the national level.
The Covid-19 testing sample collection robot created by Hung and Y.
Both students are currently in the 11th grade of the Information Technology Specialized Class at Le Quy Don High School (Dong Ha City, Quang Tri).
In an interview, the two students shared that the recent developments of the Covid-19 pandemic across the country, particularly in Quang Tri, have been complex. Especially as community transmission cases rise, the healthcare workers face challenges in sample collection, increasing the risk of cross-infection.
“Our main focus was to come up with an idea to avoid cross-infection during sample collection and reduce the physical burden on healthcare workers. From there, we developed the concept and began building the Covid-19 testing sample collection robot with the support of our teachers,” Hung explained.
A close-up of the Covid sample collection robot created by Hung and Y.
Accordingly, after school hours, both students dedicated their free time to focus in Hung’s room, using a round table to place their working computer, and they began tinkering and creating.
There were even nights when they encountered some issues, and the two students stayed up all night to fix the robot.
According to Hung, the robot’s operating mechanism begins when a user scans a QR code on the robot using the PC Covid app or their ID card to store information.
Then, the sample collector will place their face against the sample collection frame, and the machine will automatically detect and insert a swab into the person’s nose to collect the sample.
With a force sensor mechanism, the robot will automatically analyze whether it has made contact with the nasopharynx and collect the sample within the 5 seconds stipulated by the Ministry of Health, then retrieve it and place it into the testing machine to produce results.
Regarding the funding for purchasing assembly components, during the product development process, the school and relevant agencies provided financial support for the project, including scholarships.
However, due to improvements and additional expenses, Hung and Y had to borrow more money from Hung’s grandmother to purchase upgraded components. Most of these components were sourced online and ordered by the students.
The robot is currently being disassembled for additional equipment enhancements.
Hung’s grandmother mentioned that seeing her grandson’s passion, she and the family supported and encouraged him to pursue his research. Each day, about five delivery trucks arrive at their home to drop off items that Hung has ordered.
“Many nights, Hung stayed up all night to adjust and assemble the robot to make it as perfect as possible. Seeing his passion for creation, I, along with Hung’s parents, only bought extra milk and food to nourish him. On days when Y stayed over, I also bought additional food to support them,” Hung’s grandmother shared.
At the time of the interview, the Covid-19 testing sample collection robot was being disassembled, adjusted, and equipped with additional devices in preparation for the national high school science and technology competition for the 2021-2022 school year.
Dr. Le Thi Huong, Director of the Department of Education and Training of Quang Tri Province, stated that the assembly of the Covid-19 testing sample collection robot by the two students from Le Quy Don High School is a very creative idea.
“With the passion and dedication of the two students, along with the support of their teachers, I believe that the completed product will yield very practical results. The education sector in our province will always closely follow and support these two students as much as possible,” emphasized the Director of the Department of Education and Training of Quang Tri Province.
