This undated file photo shows Rice, the delivery robot, using an elevator. Rice can navigate through different floors of a building and even use the lift by itself. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVT)

HONG KONG -Technology firms at the Science Park are using their know-how to help fight the pandemic.

One company has developed a compact little robot called Rice that is proving useful during these times of social distancing while another has come up with a real-time monitoring system that detects abnormalities in people’s body temperature, pulse rate and blood oxygen level.

Hong Kong reported 101 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, including 92 locally transmitted infections, bringing the city’s tally to 6,802

Technology firms at the Science Park developed a robot that's useful in quarantine and a system that detects in real-time abnormalities in body temperature, pulse, and blood oxygen level

Technology company founder & CEO Victor Lee said Rice can help minimize staff contact with travelers who are required to undergo quarantine in hotels under the COVID-19 regulations.

“We provide the robots to some of the local hotels that provide a quarantine service to some of the guests in Hong Kong. Our robots also contribute to provide contactless delivery to the guests,” Lee said.

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Rice can deliver documents and food automatically, as long as the destination address is input properly. It can navigate through different floors of a building, even using the lift by itself. When a task is completed, it goes straight back to the charging station.

Brilliant duo

Rice is equipped with a camera and an ultrasound sensor. Together with the light detection and ranging as well as the simultaneous localization and mapping technologies, it can detect objects and avoid obstacles in its path.

It is not the only robot playing a role in the epidemic fight. There is another robot with a spraying function that can be used to deposit a fine mist of disinfectant into the air. It is usually deployed to busy shopping malls.

“To hotels, our robots can provide the value of bringing a contactless solution to the guests. In shopping malls, the value is very different. The robots can greet the guests, can take a Q&A, and can provide air disinfection,” said Lee.

Real-time monitoring

Another medical technology company at the Science Park has developed a real-time monitoring system to check people’s body temperature, pulse rate and blood oxygen level.

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The system alarm is triggered when it detects abnormalities and enables medical staff to promptly check on their patients.

Technology company CEO Lydia Leung (right) explains that the real-time monitoring system is useful for checking the health condition of those under quarantine or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in hospitals. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVT)

Technology company CEO Lydia Leung explained that this is particularly useful for monitoring the health condition of those under quarantine or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in hospitals.

“The real-time monitoring system mainly makes use of a cellular connected device,” she said.

“We can send data to our cloud and have a real-time display for doctors or caregivers, such that they can in real time, whether in hospitals, in canteens or even in their homes, monitor the situation of patients or users,” she added.

Leung added that the Hospital Authority has conducted trials of the system in public hospitals and a quarantine centre.

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She hopes the technology can help limit doctors and healthcare workers’ direct contact with COVID-19 patients and relieve the pressure on local frontline healthcare professionals.

This synergy between technology and creativity has enabled Hong Kong’s entrepreneurs to contribute in a variety of ways to help fight the COVID-19 epidemic and support the public during this unprecedented situation.