University of California (UC) researchers are turning to robots for help during the ongoing pandemic. A research team—which includes members from UC’S Irvine, San Diego, and Los Angeles campuses—are developing advanced robots that will allow healthcare workers to conduct remote exams. Called UC Iris, the bots will also give quarantined California’s an easier way to participate in the outside world, the university said Feb. 18. “COVID-19 has changed how we work and interact with each other,” co-principal Veronica Ahumada-Newhart said in a press release. “We are extending our earlier work to new environments where there is high risk of infection: patient care and community engagement.” Researchers were awarded a $1.2 million grant to develop the technology, which will boast advanced tactile sensing, manipulation capabilities and the ability to transmit information through touch. They’re planning to study how to most effectively deploy the equipment to improve telehealth. The cyborgs could improve mental …