Student group invents smart nurse robot

The idea of ​​developing a smart nursing robot came from the practical observations of the AIoT BKR group, consisting of 5 students from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, with the desire to contribute to the development of the medical industry. Under the guidance of Associate Professor, Dr. Le Thanh Long, lecturer of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, this idea won the first prize in science at the school.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Le Thanh Long, the shortage of human resources in hospitals and medical facilities is a worrying issue, especially when the demand for health care is increasing. The creation of a supporting device to simplify the process of health monitoring, transporting medical supplies and supporting doctors in examination and treatment is extremely urgent.

"According to a 2022 study by the Ministry of Health, large hospitals are facing overload, with up to 20% of nurses working beyond their capacity. This shortage not only affects the quality of patient care but also leads to medication errors in hospitals stemming from manual processes," said research team leader Tran Vu Gia Huy.

From that reality, the team developed the idea of ​​Florence the nurse robot, with the aim of improving the quality of patient care in Vietnamese hospitals. Florence is equipped with advanced features such as automatic navigation, voice communication, measurement and data analysis.

Using artificial intelligence and the internet of things, this robot is capable of identifying, collecting patient data and assisting doctors in diagnosis and treatment.

One of the limitations of the current nurse robot model is the cost and compatibility in terms of technology and function. Therefore, the research team sought to reduce the product cost to only 1/5 of the cost of imported robots.

Florence nurse robot product

At the same time, the robot can master the technology and operation and maintenance is convenient because it is designed and manufactured in Vietnam. The design of functions is also taken into account by the team to suit the characteristics of Vietnamese patients such as voice communication, 24/7 care, understanding Vietnamese culture and customs.

One of the biggest challenges the team faces is convincing healthcare facilities and patients to believe in the effectiveness and safety of robots in healthcare.

In addition, integrating the robot into the hospital’s current workflow also requires changes in procedures and staff training. Some of the key improvements the team is continuing to make include: Optimizing the product’s design for ease of movement in tight hospital spaces; replacing components with industrial modules; integrating chips that can store and process data faster.

Algorithms for user recognition, facial scanning, and robot navigation also need to be optimized, especially when operating in real-world environments with large patient populations.

The product improvement process can last for 1 year, through practical testing stages and evaluation from doctors, nurses and medical technology experts. At the same time, comments from medical teams and doctors will help to perfect the product better.

Associate Professor, Dr. Le Thanh Long said that to ensure safety, in the coming time, the group will conduct rigorous tests on the robot's ability to move and avoid obstacles. At the same time, they will evaluate the robot's ability to interact with users of different ages and genders.

"We believe that, with careful preparation, the nurse robot will meet all the strict requirements of the hospital environment and bring benefits to both patients and medical facilities," Associate Professor, Dr. Le Thanh Long affirmed.

With the Florence nurse robot product, the AIoT BKR team won first prize in the "Bach khoa Innovation 2024" competition of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology. In the near future, the team hopes to participate in the student scientific research award and other science and technology competitions.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/nhom-sinh-vien-dai-hoc-bach-khoa-tphcm-sang-che-robot-y-ta-thong-minh-20241105133903737.htm