Robot Mitra connects Covid-19 patients with the outside world
The robot is being used in India, where it was created, using facial recognition technology for hospital patients to interact external visitors
16 September 2020 - 12:49
byAdnan Abidi and Alasdair Pal
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A medical worker puts Mitra on charge at the Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital in Noida, on the outskirts of New Delhi, India, September 15 2020. Picture: REUTERS/ADNAN ABIDI
New Delhi — A hospital in India has deployed a customer service robot to patrol its wards, connecting coronavirus patients to friends and relatives.
Mitra, which means “friend” in Hindi, is best known for interacting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event in 2017.
Its piercing eyes are equipped with facial recognition technology to help it recall people it has previously interacted with. A tablet attached to Mitra’s chest allows patients to see loved ones, as well as medical staff unable to access the wards.
“It takes a lot of time to recover, and during this time, when patients need their families the most, they are unable to visit,” said Dr Arun Lakhanpal, a doctor at the Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital in Noida Extension, a satellite city of the capital New Delhi.
Mitra is mainly used by patients who are not able to communicate using their phones.
“We mainly discuss my health,” said Makhanlal Qazi, a retired government bureaucrat and coronavirus patient who has used the robot to communicate with relatives. “I came here on Friday and now I have started feeling better. I am feeling very happy now.”
The robot, developed by Bengaluru-based start-up Invento Robotics, cost the hospital 1-million rupees ($13,600), according Yatharth Tyagi, director of the company that runs the hospital.
Mitra is also being used for remote consultations with specialists to reduce their risk of becoming infected, he said. “Normally it is very difficult for a psychologist or a dietitian to see a Covid-19 patient,” Tyagi said, adding the robot is “very useful”.
India’s novel coronavirus cases surged past 5-million on Wednesday, only the second country in the world to cross the grim milestone after the US.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Robot Mitra connects Covid-19 patients with the outside world
The robot is being used in India, where it was created, using facial recognition technology for hospital patients to interact external visitors
New Delhi — A hospital in India has deployed a customer service robot to patrol its wards, connecting coronavirus patients to friends and relatives.
Mitra, which means “friend” in Hindi, is best known for interacting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event in 2017.
Its piercing eyes are equipped with facial recognition technology to help it recall people it has previously interacted with. A tablet attached to Mitra’s chest allows patients to see loved ones, as well as medical staff unable to access the wards.
“It takes a lot of time to recover, and during this time, when patients need their families the most, they are unable to visit,” said Dr Arun Lakhanpal, a doctor at the Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital in Noida Extension, a satellite city of the capital New Delhi.
Mitra is mainly used by patients who are not able to communicate using their phones.
“We mainly discuss my health,” said Makhanlal Qazi, a retired government bureaucrat and coronavirus patient who has used the robot to communicate with relatives. “I came here on Friday and now I have started feeling better. I am feeling very happy now.”
The robot, developed by Bengaluru-based start-up Invento Robotics, cost the hospital 1-million rupees ($13,600), according Yatharth Tyagi, director of the company that runs the hospital.
Mitra is also being used for remote consultations with specialists to reduce their risk of becoming infected, he said. “Normally it is very difficult for a psychologist or a dietitian to see a Covid-19 patient,” Tyagi said, adding the robot is “very useful”.
India’s novel coronavirus cases surged past 5-million on Wednesday, only the second country in the world to cross the grim milestone after the US.
Reuters
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