Feasibility Evaluation of a Prototype Automated Multitask Urine Robotic System for Intensive Care Unit Urine Management

Abstract

Abstract. Manual urine bag management in intensive care units (ICUs) is labor-intensive and poses infection risks due to handling urine, necessitating automated solutions to enhance efficiency and safety. This study develops and evaluates the Automated Multitask Urine Robotic System (AMURS), a novel robotic prototype integrating an automated guided vehicle (AGV) with ultrasonic sensors for navigation, a urine drainage module (UDM) for precise tubing control, and high-precision sensors with custom software for real-time urine monitoring. Prototype testing in a controlled ICU setting assessed its feasibility for autonomous urine drainage, weight measurement, color analysis, and data integration with hospital information systems (HIS). Results demonstrate AMURS's ability to automate drainage, provide reliable weight and color analysis, and enable seamless data integration. Despite lacking integrated sterilization and robust navigation for crowded ICUs, AMURS shows potential to reduce caregiver workload and support continuous monitoring. Further development is needed to address sterilization, safe urine transport, and scalability for ICU adoption.