Robots provide novel approach to virus prevention at Bangkok mall

A robot dog is helping protecting people from the coronavirus at a Bangkok shopping centre by dispensing hand sanitiser. It’s name is K9 and it runs off 5G internet from the mobile phone operator AIS (The Thaiger smells a PR stunt for the new AIS 5G network). K9 looks like he, or she, needs a head and a wagging tail.

A shopper who came across the robot at Central World mall called it “creepy”, but an AIS marketing officer says robots are to assist people “and many people think K9 is cute”. There’s also the robot ROC, who checks temperatures, and LISA, who helps with customer service. While the robots help with checking temperature and dispensing hand sanitiser, they also help with social distancing, reducing the risk of person to person contact. All the robots run off 5G, which is providing faster internet speed as its rolled out around the country. AIS plans to launch 5G network smartphones by the end of the year.

As shopping malls opened back up last month, preventative measures have been put in place, such as temperature checks before entering, signs throughout reminding people about social distancing and personal hygiene practices. There’s also been an app for check ins to assist with contact-tracing should there be a confirmed case within the shopping precincts.

Bangkok’s Seacon Square shopping centre, has a machine they call the “Face Bot” which takes temperatures and scans faces to make sure people are wearing a face mask. And Foot pedals were installed at the Srinakarin Department store at the mall bro e used instead of buttons on the elevator.

SOURCE: Agence France Presse