Cutebot comes to rescue in fight against Covid-19

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 28

In its endeavour towards Atmanirbhar Bharat, Dr BR Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, (NIT) Jalandhar, has developed a multi-purpose mobile robot – Cutebot— that can help in protecting health warriors from infections as well as aid the national security agencies in surveillance.

Equipped with a camera and voice communication system, doctors and other medical staff can use the audio-visual screen of the robot to interact with patients of Covid-19 and other diseases. They Cutebot can help in guiding patients on medicines and can also deliver refreshments in the isolation wards. For security personnel, it can help in surveillance and in some other required areas.

The robot was inaugurated by the Chairperson of Board of Governors of the NIT, Subhash Chandra Ralhan. Designed jointly by Dr Kuldeep Singh Nagla, Associate Professor and a specialist in Robotics and Automation, and Professor LK Awasthi, Director of the Institute, this robot can carry around 15-kg weight in the hospital environment, besides doing other jobs.

Dr Nagla said the Cutebot could be controlled both through internet and wire-based joy stick within a radius of 25-30 metres. It moves at a variable speed (with a maximum of 22 metres per minute). It can easily manoeuvre between two hospital beds. After working continuously for a minimum of two hours, the robot can be recharged. It can also adopt independent UV light disinfector on its platform.

Besides, it can be further used as an electronic cart to carry garbage, hospital waste and other materials in the hospitals. It can also be kept in the hospital wards to monitor the activities around the patient. The same robot can be used at home to tend to elders or the disabled, in hotels and marriage ceremonies to serve food etc.

Interestingly, the robot can easily be modified to control from several hundred kilometers through internet just by changing the software. This upgrade may prove beneficial for security agencies while working in operational fields, said Dr Nagla.

“Costing between Rs 2-2.5 lakh after mass production, the Cutebot is unique because of its low cost as compared to other robots available in foreign markets,” said Director Awasthi. He said it can rotate its head, which is a screen, more than 360 degrees to communicate. He said its weight carrying capacity and volume to hold weight is very high.

He said the institute had transferred the technology to a Gujarat-based company for its mass production and commercialisation. Following the Prime Minister’s call for Atmanirbhar Bharat, the faculty and students of the institute have filed more than 50 Intellectual Property Rights in the form of patents, copyright and designs during the last couple of years.

He said during the pandemic time, the institute had transferred five technologies to the industry. The products invented by the NIT, Jalandhar, are in the market now. These are air purifier, facemasks, ultraviolet cleaner etc.