Robot dog hounds Thai shoppers to keep hands virus-free

Mimicking an excited puppy, K9 roams around the mall drawing the attention of children

Last updated: June 04, 2020 | 21:06

Compiled by Nathaniel Lacsina, Digital Content Editor and AFP

2 MIN READ

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A 5G K9 robot distributes hand sanitiser to visitors in a shopping mall in Bangkok on June 4, 2020, as sectors of the economy reopen following restrictions to halt the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus.

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The hi-tech hound is controlled using 5G, a technology promising super-fast internet speeds with immediate reaction times that is still in the initial stages of roll out in Thailand.

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Mimicking an excited puppy, K9 roams around the popular Central World mall in downtown Bangkok, drawing the attention of delighted children eager to get gel from a bottle attached to its back.

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"It's convenient for people to wash their hands, just like a preventive measure... especially in this COVID-19 situation," said Petra Saktidejbhanubandh, a marketing officer for mobile operator Advanced Info Services (AIS).

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AIS is aiming to roll out a 5G network for smartphones by the end of the year. K9's 5G-powered comrades include ROC, which checks temperatures, and LISA, a customer service-bot.

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Shopper Lapassanan Buranapatpakorn found K9's skeletal mechanical frame "creepy". "I think the execution, like the robot itself, is a bit scary," the 29-year-old said, though she admitted that giving out hand sanitiser is a "good idea".

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Thailand has gradually lifted restriction on businesses, which have taken precautions such as seating customers apart in restaurants or erecting plastic dividers in massage parlors.

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The kingdom currently has 3,101 confirmed cases of the virus and 58 deaths.

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