With the government and the World Health Organization advising people to maintain six feet distance and wear mask to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, hospitals and businesses took to robots to tend to people’s needs.
From robots patrolling the road and making announcements, to serving as a nurse, and connecting people with their loved one. These machines have stood with our country in the fight against the virus.
Zafi, an interactive robot was developed at COVID-19 isolation wards at Stanley Medical College and Hospital in Chennai. The robot was designed and developed by the SASTRA University and Propeller Technologies, Trichy to help doctors and nurses maintain social distance while caring for their patients.
Zafi Clean and Zafi Sterlise designed to help maintenance workers of COVID-19 wards in government hospitals.
This coronavirus-themed ground robot is used to spray disinfectant at residential areas in Chennai.
Robots check body temperature and collect basic information about people at a private hospital in Bengaluru.
A robot nurse developed to combat COVID-19 and care for patients by Coimbatore-based startup Dotworld Technologies.
ROBO-COP, a robot used by the Chennai police to make announcements about COVID-19 and importance of staying indoors.
Mitra, a robot used by COVID patients to communicate with their relatives, is seen inside an elevator of the Yatharth Super Specialty Hospital in Noida.
Cobots are here
While many are worried about robots replacing humans in the workplace, there has been an increase in the use of cobots in workplaces. Cobots or collaborative robots are robots that work alongside humans than replace them. They are said to improve productivity, helping humans focus on essential tasks. Take Amazon for example – the company has been using robots to do the heavy lifting while humans can direct them.
Cobots are being used by some companies in a pandemic scenario to mitigate the spread of the virus.
Picture Credit : Google