Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology in Jalandhar has developed a multi-purpose service robot named as ‘Cutebot’ for multiple uses by hospitals and security agencies, reports Hindustan Times.

The robot which is enabled with a wheeled mobile platform and an audio-visual screen enables doctors and medical staff to interact with patients of COVID19 and other infectious diseases while sitting in their rooms.

Designed jointly by Professor Kuldeep Singh Nagla and Professor L K Awasthi, the robot can help hospitals in guiding patients on medicines and to deliver refreshments in the isolation wards. It can also help security personnel in undertaking surveillance.

“Cutebot can be controlled both through the internet and wire-based joy stick within a radius of 25-30 meters. It moves at a variable speed with a maximum of 22 meters per minute,” Prof Nagla said.

“It can easily maneuver between two hospital beds. After continuously working for a minimum of two hours, the robot can be recharged. It can also adopt an independent UV light disinfector on its platform,” he added.

The robot can also be modified to control from several hundred kilometers through the internet by changing the software. This up-gradation may be suitable for security agencies while working in operational fields.

"Costing between Rs 2 to 2.5 lakh after mass production, the Cutebot is unique because of its low cost as compared to other such robots available in foreign markets,” Prof Awasthi said.

The institute has transferred the technology of this robot to a Gujarat-based company for its mass production and commercialization.

During the pandemic time, the institute had transferred five technologies related to air purifiers, facemasks, ultraviolet cleaner to the industry.