June 03, 2020, 03:54 PM
In this new normal that is Singapore post-circuit breaker, it seems robots might become a new fixture.
Cleaning robot roving through halls
On his return to work at Mount Elizabeth Hospital on the first day of Phase 1, one Shunda Lee was greeted by a rather interesting sight—a cleaning robot roving through the corridors.
The video is almost ominous — there's no other person in sight and only the sound of the robot's whirring fills the silence.
The clip abruptly ends as the robot looms over Lee.
You can watch it here.
And while the robot might have spooked some, like this Facebook user below —
— the machine is actually an auto-cleaning robot.
Parkway Pantai, the private healthcare provider which operates Mount Elizabeth Hospital and Mount Elizabeth Novena among others, told Mothership that the robot is named Eli.
The robot was designed to don a uniform similar to those of the Environmental Service attendants who keep the wards clean.
Photo courtesy of Parkway Pantai
The robots have actually been around since June 2019, and are able to cover more areas and help the attendants in cleaning floors and scrubbing.
Developed by robotics company Wis Holdings, two of these robots are deployed at Mount Elizabeth. They roam the medical wing of the hospital.
One more robot has been deployed at Mount Elizabeth Novena.
More robots
This isn't the first robot to have caught Singaporeans' attention recently.
The unveiling of a safe distancing robot at local parks recently turned numerous (parkgoers') heads.
Called SPOT, the four-legged dog-like robot is part of a pilot trial between the National Parks Board (NParks) and the Smart Nation and Digital Government Group (SNDGG), which comprises the Smart Nation and Digital Government Office and Government Technology Agency.
For two weeks from May 8, the robot broadcasted a recorded message to remind park visitors to observe safe distancing measures.
It can also be controlled remotely which reduces the manpower required for park patrols, and simultaneously minimises the physical contact between staff, volunteer safe distancing ambassadors, and park visitors.
Here's a video of robo-SPOT versus real life Spot.
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Top photo from Shunda Lee / FB and Parkway Pantai
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