Robotic device to ease workload

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 4

Doctors at Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, have created a robotic device to ease the workload of healthcare workers.

The device is the brainchild of Dr Nishit Sawal, Dr Hargunbir Singh and Dr Tanish Modi.

At any given day, three hospital attendants are working in the Covid-19 ward and their job is mainly to supply food and fruits to patients.

Dr Hargunbir Singh of the GMCH explains: “The non-technical work can be completely replaced by the robotic delivery system. Similar robots have been successfully used at China’s isolation wards.”

The robot has two servo motors and four sensors. It is designed to follow a black line on the floor. The line can be created using electrical tape or black paint. The robot is programmed to follow the line using light sensors mounted at the bottom of the chassis. The robot has a tray on the top which houses an ultrasonic sensor. The ultrasonic sensor can detect when payload is placed on the tray by the healthcare provider and when it is taken off by the patient. The robot can carry a payload up to 4 kgs. Additionally, the robot has two rotational sensors connected to its motors which provide feedback from them.