Robots help to distribute meals in the Hospital of Braga
03rd April 2019
The existing solutions in the market for hospital transport required a significant infrastructure both from the space and transport equipment points of view. In that regard, with a clear focus on the innovation in the logistic processes of meal distribution in a hospital environment, GERTAL decided to fund the development of these robots.
“The robots differ in several aspects from the solutions that currently exist in the market, namely by their traction system that allows them to cling to the existing carts through a simple mechanical adaptation, by their tracking system that gives them information on where they are at any moment, thus taking full advantage of the natural characteristics of the building that they go through without having to use magnetic markers or tapes, by the autonomy of their batteries, or even by the continuous connection to the wireless network that makes their operation to be constantly monitored”, explains Germano Veiga, senior researcher at INESC TEC’s Centre for Robotics in Industry and Intelligent Systems.
The robots also include a navigation system that allows them to avoid small obstacles, control of elevators while also having a loading system based on a wireless non-contact loading technology.
The developed solution will allow a better management of the human resources, as they no longer have to carry out operations of high physical demand and of low value added.
“For the medium and long term, the robots will allow to accelerate the processes of meal distribution in a hospital and to free the collaborators of the catering companies in order for them to carry out other tasks in a hospital environment”, explains Rosalina Telo from GERTAL.
The robots have been being tested in the Hospital of Braga due to it being a new building with new and wide corridors and the demonstrations that were carried out have shown successful results. According to Jorge Maia Gomes, Executive Director of the Hospital of Braga, this project “is an important asset because it contributes to a greater efficiency of processes, allowing the adjustment to other hospital areas, as is the case of laundry, waste management, among others”.
Although the current cost of the robots is high as they are prototypes, it is estimated that with the increase of the project and the capacity of production of about 10 robots, the cost of each one will be around EUR 15 000.
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For more information:
Joana Coelho
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