Robovie ensures COVID-19 guidelines are followed

In Japan, countermeasures such as wearing a mask, disinfecting hands, and social distancing have been practiced widely since COVID-19 began this year. Wearing surgical masks was already common in Japan before the pandemic as protection against flu in the winter or pollen allergies. However, a shop in Japan has introduced a robotic employee to help ensure that customers are following COVID-19 guidelines. Robovie is programmed with functions to help identify people who aren't wearing masks and politely ask them to wear one.

Osaka, Japan: With his child-like voice Robovie seems like the sweetest of robots. But his message is a serious one: Wear a mask!

Robovie, developed by the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International, is programmed with functions to help identify people who aren't wearing masks and politely ask them to wear one.

He's been introduced into a shop in Japan to ensure customers are following COVID-19 guidelines. Other capabilities include warning people to maintain social distance and provide guidance services inside the store, thanks to cameras and 3D mapping.

"We tried to make a robot with these functions and the purpose of this demonstration is to learn about the effect and what is necessary for such a robot to be accepted," says Satoru Satake, Researcher at Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR).

The robot was installed at the Cerezo Osaka shop as a demonstration experiment

Store manager Koichi Oe says "It's still rare to see (a robot in a store) so many people are interested in that. I think it makes a good impression."

The developers of the robot hope that in an aging society like Japan with declining birth rates, robots could also help provide assistance to customers, such as giving directions in a store.

"At a minimum, it can provide guidance to areas of product display in a voice of omotenashi (Japanese hospitality). So from the staff's point of view, when the robot is here, it reduces one thing to do and it is very helpful," says Oe.

(Inputs from AP)