The Role of the Mechanical Engineers in Fighting Against COVID-19

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by severe acute respiratory
syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in
December 2019. The disease has since spread worldwide, leading to an ongoing pandemic. Symptoms
of COVID-19 are variable, but often include fever, cough, headache, fatigue, breathing difficulties,
and loss of smell and taste. COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed the world, obligating all
scientific disciplines to be adapted to the new facts. The disease has infected millions of people
around the world. It resulted in a large number of deaths. The responsibility of facing this pandemic
falls upon on all members of the community. Huge efforts have been put through to stop the spread of
the pandemic and to develop vaccines and medication. Professionals of different disciplines are doing
their part to defeat this virus. Mechanical engineers are also contributing to responding to this
pandemic. However, many mechanical engineers don’t know how to contribute their valuable
knowledge and skills to fight against corona virus. The present study aims to review the mechanical
engineering controls to face the pandemic and how mechanical engineers offer their assistance
during this crisis. The paper includes detailed explanations of some aspects where the mechanical
engineers contribute to tackling the pandemic such as fabricating the three dimensional printing of
full-face shields, manufacturing ventilator splitters, inventing the nanohack mask, developing the
robotic doctors and robots in workplaces and public places, improving the offsite construction of
hospitals, racing against time to produce more ventilators, designing and producing atmosphere
control and filtering units.