Robots could soon replace hospital porters

A hospital’s new robots are running errands for nurses and can replace the work of up to four people each.

The eight robots, all called Noah, move around a hospital in China carrying documents, medicine and surgical equipment weighing up to 330kg (650lbs).

Using GPS technology, a Noah bot is able to navigate the hospital’s complex wings with ease and can carry ten times as much as one human staff member.  

The eight robots, all called Noah, whizz around a hospital in China carrying documents, medicine and surgical equipment weighing up to 330kg (650lbs)

NOAH BOTS

The intelligent Noah bots are programmed with phrases such as ‘Here I go!’, ‘I’m entering the lift!’ and ‘I’ve been obstructed!’ to notify their human colleagues throughout the day.

Using GPS technology, a Noah bot is able to navigate the hospital’s complex wings with ease and can carry 10 times as much as one human staff member.

The hospital estimates the machines will save nurses up to 1,944 kilometres (1,207 miles) of walking every year.

The helpers are worth at least 600,000 yuan ($100,000 / £75,000) and are comprised of more than 150 core patents. 

The Noah bots are currently working in the Guangzhou Women and Children’s Hospital in the capital of South China’s Guangdong Province.

The robots are still in their trial phase, Vice Dean of Medicine Zhang Zhiyao said, adding that they are currently only running errands between the centre’s pharmacy and the nurses station – but have the potential to do much more.

The hospital estimates the machines will save nurses up to 1,944 kilometres (1,207 miles) of walking every year.

The intelligent Noah bots are programmed with phrases such as ‘Here I go!’, ‘I’m entering the lift!’ and ‘I’ve been obstructed!’ to notify their human colleagues throughout the day.

The helpers are worth at least 600,000 yuan ($100,000 / £75,000) and are comprised of more than 150 core patents.

Using GPS technology, a Noah bot is able to navigate the hospital's complex wings with ease and can carry 10 times as much as one human staff member

Using GPS technology, a Noah bot is able to navigate the hospital’s complex wings with ease and can carry 10 times as much as one human staff member

Other benefits of using the Noahs is that they are much cleaner than having people deliver equipment.

The wheeled and lockable cabinet hauled around by the robots guarantees contamination-free transport of vital hospital equipment and medication, further lowering the risk of human error.

The Guangzhou Women and Children Medical Center has over the years made a name for itself as a facility that is keen to pioneer the use of technologies that benefit those providing and requiring hospital treatment.

The intelligent Noah bots are programmed with phrases such as 'Here I go!', 'I'm entering the lift!' and 'I've been obstructed!' to notify their human colleagues throughout the day

The intelligent Noah bots are programmed with phrases such as ‘Here I go!’, ‘I’m entering the lift!’ and ‘I’ve been obstructed!’ to notify their human colleagues throughout the day

The hospital became the first in China to allow appointments through mobile phone applications and cashless payments through mobile devices too.

More than 100 surgical procedures are carried out at the hospital every day.

It is being extended with two new campuses which will have exclusive elevators for Noah bots.

The developers are working on Noah’s visual function and ability to interact with people.

The wheeled and lockable cabinet hauled around by the robots guarantees contamination-free transport of vital hospital equipment and medication, further lowering the risk of human error

The wheeled and lockable cabinet hauled around by the robots guarantees contamination-free transport of vital hospital equipment and medication, further lowering the risk of human error

 

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