Abstract: A method of treating an enclosed space, in particular a room in a hospital, is provided, for example by disinfecting same, using a robotic mobile apparatus emitting ultraviolet (UV-C) radiation or hydrogen peroxide vapour (HPV). The robotic, mobile apparatus (1) comprises a wheeled carriage (3) on which a treatment device (2) is mounted and a controller (14) is provided that is configured to control operation of the wheels (12) of the carriage (3) and to operate the treatment device (2). A human-machine interface (HMI) (5) is also provided that is in communication with the controller (14) and is operable to start and stop a treatment procedure. A route around the enclosed space is recorded in the computer memory from a start position to an end position.

Abstract: A robotic, mobile apparatus (1) for treating an enclosed space (53) comprises a wheeled carriage (3) on which a treatment device (2) is mounted. A controller (14) is provided that is configured to control operation of the wheels (12) of the carriage (3) and to operate the treatment device (2). A human-machine interface (HMI) (5) is also provided that is in communication with the controller (14) and is operable to start and stop a treatment procedure. When a treatment procedure is started, the human-machine interface (5) initiates operation of the controller (14), which controls operation of the wheels (12) of the carriage (3) so that the wheeled carriage (3) robotically tracks along a predetermined route around the enclosed space (53) and which controls operation of the treatment device (2) during its track along said route. The treatment device (2) may comprise a disinfection device such as one comprising a plurality of UV-C emitting lamps (10).

Abstract: A robotic, mobile apparatus (1) for treating an enclosed space (53) comprises a wheeled carriage (3) on which a treatment device (2) is mounted. A controller (14) is provided that is configured to control operation of the wheels (12) of the carriage (3) and to operate the treatment device (2). A human-machine interface (HMI) (5) is also provided that is in communication with the controller (14) and is operable to start and stop a treatment procedure. The treatment device (2) is electrically powered via a mains supply using an electrical cable (30) and a management system (31, 37) is provided that controls the tension of the electrical cable (30) in order to prevent the wheeled carriage (3) from becoming tangled in the electrical cable (30) when it moves robotically. Preferably, a pivotally mounted arm (35) extends from the wheeled carriage (3) and the electrical cable is threaded around an end of the pivotally mounted arm (35) whereby the cable (30) is guided around the exterior of the wheeled carriage (3).

Abstract: Magnetocaloric refrigerator or heat pump comprising an externally activatable thermal switch for transferring heat from a heat source to a heat sink, comprising: an insulator cage with thermally conductive windows for the source and sink; a magnetic nanofluid, comprised within said cage, wherein said magnetic nanofluid is able to flow under a magnetic field inside the insulator cage between a contact of the thermally conductive window of the heat source and a contact of the thermally conductive window of the heat sink; and a activatable magnet placed at either one of the thermally conductive windows, such that the produced magnetic field is aligned substantially parallel to the temperature gradient from heat source to heat sink.