A Japanese University recently held the world's first online graduation ceremony where robots replaced the absent students.
Students at the Business Breakthrough University in Tokyo didn't get a traditional ceremony, instead, robots and tablets represented them via video calls while self-isolating from homes.
Countries such as China, Japan, Italy and South Korea are using ‘social robots’ to fight the Coronavirus pandemic.
SBS Urdu spoke to the Australian scientists researching the social robots on the prospects of seeing similar use of robots during the pandemic.
Highlights:
- Robots can take temperate, monitoring vital signs, and talk to patients in waiting areas; they can be used in education, entertainment and customer service
- Australia has some of the world’s leading researchers in robot technology
- Funding mechanisms are required to encourage collaboration between roboticists and clinicians, and for early-stage start-ups to develop and deploy robotics technology
A robot publicises knowledge about prevention of the new coronavirus and pneumonia to local residents in Hai'an City, China's Jiangsu Province. Feb 19, 2020. Source: AAP Image/Xu Jingbai / Costfoto/Sipa USA
Using robots during COVID-19 outbreak
Dr Omar Mubin at the Western Sydney University has been working with Robots and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology since 2006. He has been promoting the use of social robots in domains such as health, education, entertainment and customer service in Australia.
Dr Mubin says this is the “best time” to invest in social robots amid the Coronavirus pandemic in Australia.
“Taking the temperature, monitoring vital signs, and talking to patients are some examples of how robots are being used in hospital settings in countries fighting the pandemic.
“Also, in public environments, social robots are being used to interact with patients at the times when doctors and nurses are not needed reducing the change of cross infecting.
A robot can quickly update itself as and when needed, whereas a human would need to go to training.
Professor Dana Kulić, Associate Investigator at the Australian Centre for Robotic Vision says that in clinical and medical settings, robots can help with triage in GP clinics.
A robot is demonstrated that can assist hospitalised COVID-19 patients by reducing the contact between them and hospital staff in Bangkok, Thailand. Source: AAP Image/AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit
“They can conduct initial questionnaires to determine COVID-19 status and limit the risk of exposure to clinical staff and other patients, transport of medical supplies, administration of self-tests (e.g. antibody tests).
“Teleoperated robots could also be used to provide remote health assistance, for example to remote communities.”
According to Dr Nicole Robinson from Monash University, who has been researching Human-Robot interaction for over a decade, social robots can also be used in other medical services.
“Social robots have been able to support young children in hospital settings, including children who are in hospital for medically intensive care.
“This includes providing them with stories, games and other types of entertainment while they are isolated or staying in the hospital for a long period of time.
“The robots have also been supporting older people in aged care facilities for quite some time, including in Australia.
During a time of need when we have less personal contact and people are feeling isolated, social robots can provide some sense of social companionship, support or entertainment to people who are otherwise not able to experience frequent social interaction.
What is a Social Robot?
A social robot is an embodied agent or interface that can engage in social interaction with a human through gestures, voice, emotions, facial expressions, movement and more.
They are designed to follow social communication protocols, such as greetings, turn-taking, eye gaze, etc.
READ MORE
What can Australia do?
According to Professor Kulić, Australia has world-leading researchers in robotics, as well as strong industrial expertise with robot deployment in the resource industries, however, deployment to other domains such as medical and service is lagging behind other developed nations, particularly Asia.
“There are not too many existing commercial systems that can be purchased and deployed.
“In the long term, increased funding for research and particularly deployment trials is needed like funding mechanisms to encourage collaboration between roboticists and clinicians, and for early-stage start-ups to develop and deploy robotics technology.
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There are research challenges that still need to be overcome, but public and private investment are also needed.
Dr Mubin says the “management of expectations” is the biggest challenge hence the businesses are not keen on investing something hard to understand.
“Companies want social robots to take on highly autonomous roles which is not entirely possible yet.
“Similarly, acceptance is another issue. One of our studies showed that students were sceptical of acquiring assistance from a robot.
“The primary success aspects are a novelty, entertainment and being able to quickly adapt to changing situations.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others and gatherings are limited to two people unless you are with your family or household.
If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor (don’t visit) or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
SBS is committed to informing Australia’s diverse communities about the latest COVID-19 developments. News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus
Find more news and information on Coronavirus from https://www.sbs.com.au/language/urdu/coronavirus-updates
