April 14, 2022
HONG KONG – Fifth-generation communication technologies have played a significant role in combating the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, helping the community to ride out the outbreak.
Using 5G robots for delivery and disinfection services across Hong Kong has become a common practice. Telecommunications giant China Mobile Hong Kong has teamed up with a residential community in Sham Shui Po and the Sham Shui Po District Office in using robots and “robotic dogs” to deliver COVID-prevention supplies and daily necessities to residents’ doorstep at Shek Kip Mei Estate on Feb 15. This helps to reduce the workload of volunteers, as well as infection risks.
CMHK has teamed up with a residential community in Sham Shui Po and the Sham Shui Po District Office in using robots and “robotic dogs” to deliver COVID-prevention supplies and daily necessities to residents’ doorstep at Shek Kip Mei Estate
Three robots including a robotic dog, controlled by terminals on 5G mobile phones in real-time using cloud technology, have delivered supplies, including face masks, disinfectants, rapid antigen test kits and food, to flats in the housing estate. At the doorstep, the robots’ lids or drawers are opened automatically while volunteers will inform residents to collect the items. By minimizing human contact, chances of spreading the virus are greatly lowered.
CMHK has used two robots — VS40 and iBen — to disinfect a community isolation building at Queen’s Hill Estate in Fanling in collaboration with the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department in March. The practice, which allows staff to keep track of the robots’ real-time work status through a cloud-based platform, ensures a clean environment and prevents the virus from spreading. It has benefited more than 1,300 residents at the isolation facility so far.
The VS40 is a versatile cleaning robot with multiple functions, such as vacuuming and sweeping, in an apartment. An external disinfection fogger is added to the robot to lessen the risk of infection among workers. The iBen robot carries out disinfection work via ultraviolet-C light and fogging functions.
Telecommunications giant China Mobile Hong Kong uses a multi-function robot VS40 to disinfect the community isolation facility at Queen’s Hill Estate in Fanling in March. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
CMHK has also introduced a “smart search” function to its mobile application “MyLink” by utilizing its strength in digital intelligence to provide timely information about the pandemic at various locations and easy booking services for residents. The “smart search” function informs residents about vacancies at community vaccination centers with a single-click booking option. It also collates and analyzes map-based information, such as visits made by confirmed COVID patients, as well as vacancies at nearby vaccination centers and community testing venues. The service had dealt with more than 80,000 enquiries from the public as of April 8.
Leveraging its digitalization strength, CMHK has introduced a range of anti-pandemic services on its mobile application platform concerning COVID-19 prevention and communication with the public. The company’s online services had handled about 38,000 requests for assistance from some 300,000 Hong Kong residents as of April 8.