Singapore's newest patrol officer is a four-legged robotic dog named 'Spot.' Boston Dynamics's creation will be patrolling parks across Singapore to make sure that people follow the protocol on social distancing.
Spot plays recorded messages reminding people to follow the rules and can also estimate the number of people it sees in the park. Singapore's GovTech Agency says that the bot won't collect personal information from park-goes but will simply monitor them.
Spot is in its two-week testing phase and is accompanied by a human intermediary. According to Singapore's National Parks Board, the robotic dog will be tasked to roam a four-mile radius of Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park.
The robotic dog will play a recorded voice message promoting people to observe safe distancing measures. In addition, Spot will also be tasked to estimate the number of people in the park with the use of highly-specialized cameras with enabled video analytics.
Officials reassure the public not to worry about their personal information and security as Spot will not track or record distinct individuals, and none of their data will also be collected.
Government officials say that Spot will be remotely controlled to reduce the need for human volunteers to minimize the risk of physical contact, thus, controlling the spread of the virus. Spot is also devised to pass through different types of landscapes, which is more advantageous than using a robot on wheels.
During its trial period, the robotic dog will be accompanied by a human to keep track of its performance. Spot also uses sensors to help it avoid humans.
Spot, the robotic dog, is no stranger in helping out during the coronavirus pandemic. He was also deployed last month to aid healthcare workers at Brigham and Women's Hospital or Harvard University.
Acting as one of the hospital staff, Spot treats coronavirus patients remotely in their place to limit the transmission of the virus.
In the hospital setting, Spot is equipped with a custom mount and notepad attachments to allow health care workers to do a video conference with their patients in testing tents outside of the hospital setting.
Coronavirus Update in Singapore
As of May 10, 876, new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Singapore. This now leaves the country's coronavirus case tally to reach 23,336. Another 435 recovery cases have been disclosed from hospitals or community isolation facilities, bringing the total of recoveries to 2,721.
According to the country's Ministry of Health, 860 out of the 876 new cases comprise of migrant workers who dwell in foreign worker dormitories. Another 11 cases also make up of work permit holders who live outside dorms.
Singapore houses about 1.4 million migrant workers who come predominantly from the South and Southeastern parts of Asia. Most of them work as domestic helpers, housekeepers, manual laborers, and construction workers.
These migrant workers are essential to keep Singapore's economy up and running. Unfortunately, most of these workers live in these cramped up dormitories, making social distancing close to impossible.
The MOH says that the number of new cases from workers with coronavirus symptoms and their contacts remains stable; however, the number of daily cases continues to rise. The ministry adds that they have started doing intensive testing at the purpose-built dormitories and are now doing the same for factory-converted barracks.
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