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| Singapore plans to deploy a robotic guard dog that will patrol and warn people through recorded messages to practice social distancing. (Photo Source: REUTERS) |
Singapore is trying a new way for its residents to stay away from each other. On Friday, the government announced that it would begin deploying Spot, Boston Dynamics' famous yellow and black canine robot, to a local park.
Officials said the four legged Robot Dog will be patrolling the area starting this weekend and broadcast pre-recorded messages to remind visitors of the importance of social disturbances.
He said the device would also be equipped with cameras that would scan the surroundings and help authorities estimate the number of people gathering in the parks. 'These cameras will not be able to track and/or identify specific individuals, and no personal data will be collected,' the government said in a statement.
The new measure is an experiment to remove social disturbances throughout Singapore, as it competes with a dangerous recent spike in cases. The pilot project is currently scheduled for limited testing for two weeks in a park during off-peak hours. But if all goes well, officials will consider expanding the program.
A few months back, Singapore was being praised as one of the nations that properly implemented its coronavirus preventive measures. Then another wave followed, clusters appearing in government testing quickly increased and the number of daily cases increased. Since March 17, according to Johns Hopkins University data, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Singapore has increased from 266 to 21,707.
As the situation worsens, the government has increasingly adopted technology in its response. In March, it launched a nationwide contact-detection app that uses Bluetooth to help users find out if they had close contact with an infected person, which was confirmed.
The government says it is using the spot in another capacity at a local isolation facility where the robot helps bring drugs to patients. The spot, which went viral several years ago in a series of online videos, showed that it could be used for inspection on construction sites or similar conditions, according to Boston Dynamics.
It has also been deployed for public safety reasons, such as "helping inspect dangerous packages remotely", the company states on its website.
The Singapore government said on Friday that it had chosen the model for its agility. The note states that unlike wheeled robots, the spot works well in various terrains and can navigate obstacles effectively, making it ideal for operations in public parks and gardens.
Now, at least one park ranger will patrol the area with robots, according to officials.
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