In the lobby, 25 robots ferry samples, food, medication, waste and other materials around the hospital, according to Computerworld. The robots, manufactured by Pittsburgh-based Aethon, can carry up to 1,000 pounds and are designed to “free up clinical staff and service workers to focus on patient care,” according to Aethon’s description.
The robots work largely around the clock, though two of them get to take a night off every night. The robots are keyed to open all the doors, call elevators and navigate the facility, only requiring human assistance if they become stuck.
The robots are designed to blend in; they look like filing cabinets or garbage bins. Each department owns the robot it corresponds with and only requires IT help when something in the wiring goes wrong.
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