text: Aeroplanes are infamous as breeding grounds for bacteria, with tray tables, seats and blankets singled out as the worst offenders on board. But an entrepreneurial team are hoping their new invention will revolutionise the cleaning of aircraft and help airlines win the battle against bacteria . Arthur and Mo Kreitenberg have created a robot, called the Germfalcon, which uses ultra violet light to kill bacteria throughout the cabin. Scroll down for video . A father and son team have created a robot, called the Germfalcon, which uses ultra violet light to kill bacteria throughout the cabin . The seats, tray tables and blankets on an aeroplane are breeding ground for bacteria including E.coli . According to the businessmen, germs such as E.coli and MRSA can linger for up to a week on suraces within an aircraft and there are no clear rules on how often aeroplanes should be cleaned. But the family team has developed the unusual new robot as a way to counter issues with cleaning the interior of a plane - which currently only takes place a few times a year. When the plane is parked and empty, the device, which is the size of a drinks cart, patrols the aisles using motion sensors to navigate itself. As it does, it spreads its two 'wings' over the seats on either side. Those wings contain UV-C lamps, which are the same type used for disinfection in places like hospitals and water treatment plants. It also has UV-C lamps on its top and sides. Arthur and Mo Kreitenberg, from Los Angeles, said the 3.5billion people expected to fly this year risk falling ill due to poor plane hygiene. Writing on their Kickstarter page to raise money for their project, Mo  said: 'Germs will survive on aeroplane surfaces sometimes for as long as seven days. 'There are no regulations or cleanliness standards for the passenger cabins of airplanes. Aeroplane travelers are at heightened risk of catching the common cold, flu, or more serious infections.' They said their device could spare passengers from catching illnesses when flying and give airlines a competitive edge. Last year a study from the Auburn University in Alabama discovered disease-causing bacteria can survive for up to a week inside plane cabins, on surfaces such as seat pockets, tray tables, window shades and armrests. When the plane is parked and empty, the device, which is the size of a drinks cart, patrols the aisles using motion sensors to navigate itself. As it does, it spreads its two 'wings' over the seats on either side . Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a bacteria that could cause infections, skin disease, pneumonia and sepsis, lived the longest (168 hours). Escherichia coli (E. coli), which can cause urinary tract infection, respiratory illness and diarrhoea, was found to survive for 96 hours. Mo added: 'The industry is growing aggressively. Implementing daily, routine airplane sanitization could disrupt or limit the rate bacteria and viruses spread, as the industry grows. 'We have created an efficient and practical way for airlines to sanitize the interiors of commercial planes between passenger loads. Its wings contain UV-C lamps, which are the same type used for disinfection in places like hospitals and water treatment plants. It also has UV-C lamps on its top and sides . Using UV-C light they have have proven a 99.99 per cent germ-kill rate in under 10 minutes with no damage or reaction from any cabin materials . 'Using UV-C light, we have proven a 99.99 per cent germ-kill rate in under 10 minutes with no damage or reaction from any cabin materials. The Germfalcon is programmed to reach the most commonly touched passenger surfaces and kill all germs that are exposed to the robot's sanitising lights.' The robot, which contains settings for sanitising toilets and galleys, also comes with fans and filters to clean the air and suck in dust particles. The Kreitenburgs, who have been working on the robot for several years, are about to start work on their fourth and final prototype before going into commercial production. They are currently seeking sponsorship via Kickstarter and are offering backers the chance to fly on the first completely clean flight.
target: Kickstarter campaign claims to have developed way to sterilise planes .
  Bacteria can linger in aeroplanes for up to seven days .
  There are no cleaning regulations for the interiors of aircraft .
  Robot created by father and son team Arthur and Mo Kreitenberg .
  Project involves using UV light to kill bacteria .