Robot Doctor
By:WANG LIWANG "U0205321"
A few days ago, the local news from Channel5, 8 and U reported that a Taiwan Hospital bought a few Mobile Robot Doctors from UK and put them into operation for daily nursing and performing ward rounds.
The robot is equipped with video camera and a LCD panel for display as shown in the photo. It is remotely controlled by doctor with joystick. The robot doctor itself does not provide any form of physical examination, but it proves a mobile platform for communication between doctor and patients. With which, doctors can do his/her routine at different places, as many doctors with specialize skill and knowledge are required to be in several places. The robot checked up on patients, asked them how they were feeling, inspected their surgical sites to ensure proper healing, and answered questions.
There is no intelligent in the robot, a laptop with a web cam can eventually perform the same task. And even through there is a display video of doctor in the monitor, it can never give the sense of interact with real doctor. As a doctor form the hospital said, "Our robots would never replace all doctors on ward rounds, but they are a communication tool which allows a doctor to have direct contact with their patient".
Such an application shows another potential of a robot being used in medical area. It may not have precise control like surgery robots, but it also makes doctors work easier and more convenient.
Interestingly, in NUS control lab, we also have a similar robot, it’s created as a robot usher, with its facial display by LCD and sonar sensors, stereo cameras for path planning. It should be smarter than the robot doctor above, as it can follow people by navigate itself and avoid obstacle in its path.
The robot is equipped with video camera and a LCD panel for display as shown in the photo. It is remotely controlled by doctor with joystick. The robot doctor itself does not provide any form of physical examination, but it proves a mobile platform for communication between doctor and patients. With which, doctors can do his/her routine at different places, as many doctors with specialize skill and knowledge are required to be in several places. The robot checked up on patients, asked them how they were feeling, inspected their surgical sites to ensure proper healing, and answered questions.
There is no intelligent in the robot, a laptop with a web cam can eventually perform the same task. And even through there is a display video of doctor in the monitor, it can never give the sense of interact with real doctor. As a doctor form the hospital said, "Our robots would never replace all doctors on ward rounds, but they are a communication tool which allows a doctor to have direct contact with their patient".
Such an application shows another potential of a robot being used in medical area. It may not have precise control like surgery robots, but it also makes doctors work easier and more convenient.
Interestingly, in NUS control lab, we also have a similar robot, it’s created as a robot usher, with its facial display by LCD and sonar sensors, stereo cameras for path planning. It should be smarter than the robot doctor above, as it can follow people by navigate itself and avoid obstacle in its path.
[1] "Does Dr Robot usher in new era of metal medics?" --http://www.e-health-insider.com/news/item.cfm?ID=766
[2] "First robot doctors start work in UK hospitals" THE GUARDIAN , LONDON Friday, May 20, 2005,Page 6
