Companies in multiple markets are using Amazon Web Services Inc.’s platform to build products that can aid the global response to COVID-19, and the cloud giant today shared details about some of its customers’ efforts.

Brain Corp. is a San Diego robotics startup backed by more than $150 million in funding. The startup, which runs internal workloads on AWS, sells software that gives floor-cleaning vehicles and other machines the ability to operate autonomously. Companies using its software have access to a cloud-based reporting service they can use to monitor how well their machines are performing.

The company saw usage of its autonomy software jump 24% in the second quarter and the technology is increasingly finding use at other types of locations as well, including hospitals. “The company is donating $1.6 million worth of robots and services during COVID-19 so that essential businesses can use a cleaning robot free of charge,” Matt Garman, AWS’ vice president of sales and marketing, wrote in a blog post today.

Another AWS customer, Los Angeles-based iViu Technologies Inc., develops specialized wireless location sensors for clients such as retailers. The card-deck-sized sensors were originally developed for tracking store traffic but have since found another application: helping organizations check how well social distancing is enforced. 

Australia-based Elenium Automation Pty Ltd. develops check-in kiosks for airport operators, hospitals and others. AWS’ Garman detailed that, using the cloud giant’s voice and facial recognition tools, the firm has built software that enables users to check in without having to make physical contact with its kiosks. Elenium’s systems can also gather biometric information such as body temperature.

“AWS customers are stepping up, using the cloud to develop and deploy new services that can help large numbers of people to avoid infection,” Garman wrote. “Their efforts are crucial to getting us through some of the worst impacts of COVID-19 and preparing us to address future outbreaks of disease.

Garman discussed in more detail how AWS customers are responding to COVID-19 during a March appearance on SiliconANGLE Media’s theCUBE, against the backdrop of the cloud provider’s virtual AWS Summit event. Here’s the full interview: 

Image: AWS