The Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) lab at Durgapur has developed a robotic device 'Hospital Care Assistive Robotic Device'(HCARD) that can help frontline healthcare workers in maintaining physical distance from those infected by Coronavirus.

This device is equipped with various state-of-the-art technologies and works both in automatic as well as manual modes of navigation.

This robot can be controlled and monitored by a nursing booth with a control station having such features as navigation, drawer activation for providing medicines and food to patients, sample collection and audio-visual communication.

Describing the advantages HCARD, the CMERI Director Dr Harish Hirani said: "This Hospital Care Assistive Robotic Device could be effective for frontline healthcare officials dealing with COVID-19 patients in delivering services while maintaining mandatory physical distancing".

The cost of this device is less than Rs 5 lakh and the weight is less than 80 kilograms, Dr Hirani added.

CMERI, an autonomous body under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is working on a war- footing to minimize the impact of COVID-19 through technological interventions.

Scientists at CMERI have also developed a few other customised technologies, including Disinfection Walkway, Road Sanitizer Unit, Face Mask, Mechanical Ventilator.