Malaysian scientists have created a barrel-shaped robot on wheels that they hope will make the rounds on hospital wards to check on coronavirus patients, reducing health workers' risk of infection.
"Medibot" is a 1.5 metre tall (five foot) white robot, equipped with a camera and screen via which patients can communicate remotely with medics.
The invention, built by scientists at the International Islamic University Malaysia, is also fitted with a device to check patients' temperatures remotely.
It is aimed at helping nurses and doctors working on the wards with social distancing, Zulkifli Zainal Abidin, a member of the team behind the invention, told AFP.
It cost about 15,000 ringgit ($3,500) to develop, and the university plans to trial it soon in their own private hospital, which does not treat virus patients, said Zulkifli. If that proves a success, the scientists hope it can be used in government hospitals where people with COVID-19 are sent.
Malaysia has reported 4,683 coronavirus cases, including 76 deaths.
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