Singapore is using a ‘robot dog’ to enforce social distancing measures amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The black and yellow robot, named Spot, plays a recording that says: “Let’s keep Singapore healthy. For your own safety and for those around you, please stand at least one metre apart. Thank you.”
Spot will be covering a two-mile region in the heart of Singapore and will be given a trial run of a fortnight before a performance review.
The mechanical pooch has been fitted with cameras and sensors to avoid running into people or objects.
In a press release, the Singaporean government said: “These cameras will not be able to track and/or recognize specific individuals, and no personal data will be collected.”
According to People, the robot was launched to decrease park staff exposure with park users, after restriction measures were lifted as the city-state of Singapore slowly eases into a new normal.
If the trial proves successful, Singapore’s National Parks Board will consider using Spot at the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park in the morning and during evening peak-hours, as well as at other parks such as Jurong Lake Gardens as reported.
The parks board has also deployed 30 drones to monitor park visitor numbers and has another robot, known as O-R3, patrolling the Bedok Reservoir Park.
According to Channel News Asia, the number of COVID-19 cases in Singapore exceeded 25,000 on Wednesday (May 13), with 675 new infections reported as of noon. This brings the national tally to 25,346 cases.
