Chennai

The special features of the robot – AU-MIT Bot – include automated delivery of food packets, water, and medicine. The machine can carry a payload of 40 kg and can be remote-controlled from a distance of about 500 metres.

T Thyagarajan, Dean-MIT (Project Coordinator) told DT Next on Saturday that unlike other robots, this machine features a three-in-one option. While the existing robots supply only food packets to the patients, the robot they designed not only has the option of automated delivery of food packets, water and medicine, but also has an inbuilt sanitiser that would aid in spraying disinfectant in the wards, said Thyagarajan.

The robot ensures the safety of healthcare workers during the reloading process, he said, noting, “In addition, patient’s condition can be monitored remotely using a Wi-Fi-enabled camera.”

According to him, the sanitiser unit is capable of holding seven litres of disinfectant. “The disinfectant can cover an area of about two metres,” he said adding that it can be controlled through a remote controller.

An obstacle avoidance mechanism has been incorporated in the robot and the range is tuneable up to 30 cm, Thyagarajan said. The BOT covers a distance of about 25 metres in a minute, he added.

“After a successful demonstration, the robot was handed over to Dr R Narayana Babu, Dean, Omandurar Government Medical College and Hospital in Chennai,” he said. Thyagarajan claimed that the robot would be immediately put to use at the government hospital, and added that more such machines would be supplied depending on the requirement.

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