Singapore deploys robot ‘dog’ to encourage social distancing over coronavirus
The four-legged robot “dog” will patrol the area starting this weekend and broadcast a pre-recorded message to visitors to remind them of the importance of social distancing, authorities said.
The device will also be equipped with cameras that will scan the surroundings and help officials estimate the number of people gathering in parks, they said.
The pilot project is currently set to run in a limited trial for two weeks at one park during off-peak hours. But if all goes well, authorities will consider expanding the program.
Not long ago, Singapore was being hailed as one of the countries that had gotten its coronavirus response right.
As the situation worsens, the government has increasingly adopted technology in its response.
In March, it launched a nationwide contact-tracing app that uses Bluetooth to help users find out if they had close contact with someone confirmed to have been infected.
The government says it’s also using Spot in another capacity — at a local isolation facility where the robot helps bring medicine to patients.
Singapore’s government said Friday that it had picked the model for its agility. “Unlike wheeled robots, Spot works well across different terrains and can navigate obstacles effectively, making it ideal for operation in public parks and gardens,” it noted.
For now, at least one park ranger will be patrolling the area along with the robot, according to authorities.
— CNN’s James Griffiths contributed to this report.