Malaysian scientists build robots to help out in COVID-19 wards

KUALA LUMPUR (April 13): Malaysian scientists have created mobile robots they hope will make the rounds in hospitals to check on COVID-19 patients, reducing health workers’ risk of infection, say reports.

One such creation is the Medibot, a 1.5m tall white robot, equipped with a camera and screen via which patients can communicate remotely with medics, and can even check the formers’ temperatures, reported AFP.

Medibot is built by scientists at the International Islamic University Malaysia.

It is aimed at helping nurses and doctors working on the wards with social distancing, Zulkifli Zainal Abidin, a member of the team behind the invention, told AFP.

Medibot cost about RM15,000 to develop, and the university wants to test it soon in its own private hospital, which does not treat virus patients, revealed Zulkifli.

If it is successful, the scientists hope it can be used in government hospitals where people with COVID-19 are warded.

Meanwhile, another robot is called MCK19 or Makcik Kiah 19 built by a team made up of researchers from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM (HUKM), and local tech company DF Automation and Robotics.

Bernama reported that MCK19 is designed to be able to navigate automously into a patient's room, assisting doctors and nurses deliver food and medication without the risk of infection.

"The usage of these robots will reduce the exposure of healthcare professionals and frontliners to Patients Under Investigation (PUI) that may be highly contagious and need to be in isolation," the MCK19 team explained.

"Hence, it would also decrease the need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as hospitals are facing a global shortage."

Stay calm. Stay at home. Keep updated on the latest news at www.EdgeProp.my #stayathome #flattenthecurve