Though it may not stop COVID-
That is not the actual name for the machine but its creation, according to Roy Underwood, UV developer, is a real game changer for fighting the virus and comes with many other benefits.
Underwood, CEO/president of RUCO, Incorporated, located here in Bradley County, has been involved in cleaning air and water with ultraviolet light for many years. It is used to purify pool water, but other uses were discovered that led to the additional uses.
“I started (my parent company) Sentry UV (with my son Mark) in 1995 as part of another company I had at the time … where we did a lot of things with water chemistries, more fish-
“We started working with UV light to kill the pathogens in water. This peaked my interest and I started playing with the idea. I began to realize the possibility of reflecting invisible light,” he added.
That led to seeing how UV light could be used not only to purify water, but the air, of pathogens. He actually worked with a friend, Barry Finger, a scientist with NASA on a project that led to the creation of Sentry UV.
“We found that reflecting invisible light back into the water killed/purified the water better of pathogens which catapulted to the creation of Sentry UV,” he continued. “We worked with NASA in developing the use of the ultraviolet light for the Mars Lunar Space Station where they analyzed the water before and after the use of UV. We out preformed all other UV’s tested due to reflectivity.”
He began working with commercial pool manufacturers and state and city engineers looking at chlorine related issues to see how ultraviolet light would help purify the pool water without using as much chlorine.
“Now, every state with a municipal indoor pool has to incorporate UV light as part of their filtration system. It all started with the idea that we can destroy the chloramine compounds (urine/ammonia bonding with chlorine) that make your eyes water, and harms other mechanical systems, too. We were able to determine the amount of light necessary to burn that molecule off and leave free chlorine to use again. It also reduced the overall amount of chlorine used,” Underwood said. He said he can take an alga infested pool, and “without one chemical, in three days or less, have clear water quality … make it crystal clear with UV light and no chemicals.” Underwood explained the algae particles have to be able to reproduce to continue to live, and the UV light disrupts its DNA so it cannot reproduce, which causes it to die. “They can’t be a pathogen if they can’t reproduce. UV also can turn tannic acid/tea-
He said the technology is now being developed for the poultry industry. In commercial poultry houses, “moisture is the culprit, so the problem with the industry is they have been depending on moisture, under compaction/pressure, to create heat over time which kills pathogens,” Underwood explained. Ultraviolet light is also part of his new invention (LRP) for better litter management. This equipment does several functions at once in one day versus the current several day litter management process. “UV light can be used to oxidize, too,” he added. Underwood likened the ultraviolet light to how the air is purified following a lightning strike. “If you have ever smelled the air, how pure and fresh it is, after a lightning strike, that’s ozone. The light does the same thing.” Underwood said since more was being learned of the benefits of ultraviolet light, he thought it could be adapted to more than pools and the poultry industry. Thus, RUCO the Robot. As the company’s website states: “Sentry has helped establish UV and its many applications, such as, chloramines destruction, improved air quality with a patent for the evaporator coil, where pathogens live and breed, to a patented process for sewage vents thus helping eliminate one of the main culprits of the ‘Sick Building Syndrome.'”
“I have worked on the ‘Sick Building Syndrome’ for years, and have actually patented a (machine) that can be put over sewer vents. While pathogens from sewer vents are supposed to go up into the atmosphere, when it gets colder outside, the air gets heavier, and that keeps those pathogens less able to move through the air into the atmosphere,” Underwood noted.
He said, “Every commercial building in the US has a fresh air vent. It is supposed to open every hour and flood the building with fresh air. If the pathogens and smelly gases are staying close to the roof, the large fan vacuum/sucks these back into the building, leading to ‘Sick Building Syndrome.'” He said the lifecycle of bacteria and viruses is very short, though dangerous; so if it can be stopped from reproducing, it will help contain or destroy those pathogens in the air.
“Just think of the applications when working to eliminate pathogens, including in warehouses or other sites,” Underwood said.
That has led to a more portable type of machine – a robot – that can be placed in areas where pathogens ‘live and breed,’ and cause a health danger.”
Underwood said, “(The) UV Robot available soon from RUCO, Inc., is completely self-
Thus, it can work on those pathogens which spread the coronavirus.
“The timing for this can’t be anymore perfect,” Underwood said. “I think that is why putting these robots into operation now is so beneficial.
“I have been dealing with ultraviolet light for 25 years. It is now becoming more en vogue because more people are concerned about their health,” he added. Underwood was also involved in research years ago when the anthrax scare was seen across the nation.
He stressed it does not work on those who have COVID-
“It can kill the bugs in the air floating around looking for a host,” Underwood stated. “It is not a cure, but it is a great prevention.
“The Robot can roam the hallways of hospitals, health clubs, wherever you program them to run,” Underwood stated. “Now, you have a robot that can run in the pool rooms, the showers, the workout rooms for as long as it needs to run, and with the reach of about seven or eight feet, to clear the air of pathogens and stubborn fungus.
“It’s like a human with its AI (artificial intelligence). It is sensored also. If you stand too close to it, it will tell you to step back and can even shut off if it needs to,” Underwood said. “While the light you see is not harmful to you, the ultraviolet is, so the robot is programmed to tell you to stay away, and will shut off if necessary.”
It would need to be set up to work when individuals are not present. There should be warnings that ultraviolet light is in use, so do not enter.
Other features such as temperature checks can be programmed to be performed when the ultraviolet light is not in use. The robot has a future of doing other task. “Multifunctional makes it like the kind of employees you’d love to have,” he said.
Underwood said he will be using the robots in warehouses he will soon be operating, including one soon to be renovated in Polk County as American Sentry Climate Controlled Mini Storage. He hopes to see them utilized in other sites in the future, whether a vaccine for the coronavirus is developed, because there are so many more “bugs” in the air.
He hopes to let others know more about the technology, and is available to speak to anyone about the robot or pathogen-