Singapore uses robots for home deliveries
SINGAPORE: Hoping to capitalise on a surge in demand for home deliveries, a Singapore technology company has deployed a pair of robots to bring residents their groceries in one part of the city state.
Developed by OTSAW Digital and both named “Camello,” the robots’ services have been offered to 700 households in a one-year trial.
Users can book delivery slots for their milk and eggs, and an app notifies them when the robot is about to reach a pick-up point — usually the lobby of an apartment building.
The robots, which are equipped with 3D sensors, a camera and two compartments each able to carry up to 20kg of food or parcels ordered online, make four or five deliveries per day on weekdays and are on call for half day on Saturday.
They use ultraviolet light to disinfect themselves ater every trip, said OTSAW Digital’s chief executive, Ling Ting Ming.
“Especially during this pandemic period, everybody is looking at contactless, humanless,” he said.
For the time being, staff accompany the robots on their rounds to ensure no problems arise.
Tashfique Haider, a 25-year-old student who has tried out the service, said it could be particularly helpful for the elderly so they wouldn’t have to carry goods home.
But a passerby worried the technology might be too much trouble for some.
“The younger customers will like it. I don’t think they (the older generation) will, because these are gadgets that younger people like,” said 36-year-old housewife Xue Ya Xin.
Bangladesh: Bangladesh authorities on Monday ordered an eight-day closure of all offices and international and domestic transport, as coronavirus cases hit a new high.
Thailand: Thailand reported 985 new COVID-19 cases, a record daily jump for a second day in a row, as the country deals with a third wave of infections and a highly contagious variant.
Japan: Tokyo adopted tougher measures against the coronavirus as Japanese authorities struggle to curb the spread of a more contagious variant ahead of the Olympics in a country where less than 1% of people have been vaccinated.
South Korea: South Korea said it plans to begin local production of Novavax Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine as early as June, while five domestic companies aim to start late stage clinical trials of their own shots in the second half of this year.