Revealing the profile of 'Medical Service Robot', awarded the Innovation Best Award at IBIX 2020, a success ready to be further developed for the Thai medical industry.

Amidst the worrying news of COVID-19 infections, with daily speculation about the number of new cases, we have some good news for Thais to celebrate. TKK Corporation Co., Ltd., a specialist in consulting and distributing robotics and factory automation products, has joined forces with Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Thammasat University, the Robotics and Automation Innovation Center, Panyapiwat Institute of Management (PIM), and its business partners to develop a "medical service robot" or autonomous mobile robot for hospital care services. The primary purpose of this robot is to ease the burden of medical personnel transporting food, equipment, and medical supplies and reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection during this time.

With its efficiency in meeting the needs of medical personnel, both reducing their workload and the risk of COVID-19 infection, the medical service robot, developed through the joint development of these three organizations, caught the eye of the judges for the 2020 Innovation Best Award at the UK Invention Expo (IBIX), and ultimately won this grand prize.

Updated concepts create 'medical service robots' that will make Thailand famous even abroad.

The team behind the autonomous mobile robot for medical services includes Associate Professor Dr. Kamal Kumar Pawa, former Dean of the Chulabhorn International Faculty of Medicine and Vice President for Special Affairs at Thammasat University; Kalyanee Kongsomjit, Chairwoman of TKK Corporation Co., Ltd.; Dr. Thanyawat Somjaitaveeporn, Director of the Robotics and Automation Innovation Center, Panyapiwat Institute of Management; Kanit Walayapetch, former Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister's Office and director of Baker & McKenzie Co., Ltd.; and Dr. Busara Wongraksak, Director of the Advanced Integrated Medical Management Program (AMMS).

Associate Professor Dr. Kammal provided information on the initial concept that led to the design of this 'medical service robot' as follows:

"From my medical study visits in China, I've seen how technology is being adapted to provide rapid medical services. For example, patients can complete their medical records at home. Upon arrival at the hospital, they simply need to show the staff a message confirming their appointment. The staff can then direct the patient to the appropriate department, eliminating the need to wait in line from early morning."

"Furthermore, patient information is instantly transferred electronically. During the medication dispensing process, robots are used to dispense medications. This state-of-the-art system enables rapid medical service delivery and improves treatment standards. All data is reported to assess treatment standards. This allows hospitals to know how many patients require urgent care and how to manage this specific patient group. All of these systems are yet to be implemented in Thailand."

"When I returned from China, I wondered if Thailand could do this and how. I kept this idea alive until the COVID-19 crisis hit. TKK Corporation Co., Ltd. developed the medical service robot, or AGV robot. We saw that this robot could be further developed, connecting to a 5G signal and controlled via a mobile phone. This allows for seamless service. Patients can reduce hospital visit costs and time spent in the hospital, allowing them to return to work and earn additional income."

"With all of these results, the team that created this robot believes that developing autonomous mobile robots for medical services can benefit Thai society and the medical profession as a whole. Receiving this award at IBIX 2020 is a source of pride for all Thais and a testament to the effectiveness and practicality of Thai-designed and developed innovations, just like innovations from other countries."

Dr. Thanawat Somjaitaveeporn, Director of the Robotics and Automation Innovation Center, Panyapiwat Institute of Management, further commented on the success of this collaboration, saying:

"In my position, I will play a role in education as the Director of the Robotics and Automation Innovation Center (PIM), responsible for planning human resource development and policy in collaboration with the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). I also serve on the board of the Thailand Center of Excellence for Robotics and Automation (CoRE), approved by the Cabinet under the Ministry of Industry. This committee is responsible for setting the direction for various robotics-related benefits in Thailand."

"In the past, the industrial sector has used robots extensively. Robots were initially not of much interest in the medical field. With the onset of COVID-19, many innovations have emerged, including surgical robots, blood collection robots, and blood pressure measuring robots. The robots truly suited to Thailand are service robots. If a doctor visits a COVID-19 patient directly, they risk infection. If a patient has cancer, they need to use radioactive materials, which poses a risk to the provider. Therefore, robots are the best option."

"The IBIX Award from the International British Inventions, Innovation Exhibition (IBIX) is a success achieved through the collaborative efforts of many parties. Associate Professor Kammal is the project supervisor, and Dr. Busara is the coordinator. With her experience and expertise in organizing medical personnel development courses, she provides crucial information on medical robot development."

"We also received a vision from Mr. Kanit, who was previously an assistant minister. He will help oversee laws, regulations, and guidelines. Meanwhile, Ms. Kalyanee is in the role of manufacturer and owner of the materials and equipment that will make this robot possible."

"Recently, Thailand has proven itself in many ways, particularly in public health. Foreign investors need to consider which country is the right fit. Another factor is geography. We have a geographic advantage, and Thais are skilled. If you look closely, you'll see that Thais have won global innovation awards and the IBIX award. Of the 40 countries participating, Thailand is the only country in the world."

The development of robots is revolutionizing the Thai medical industry. A dream that can come true if we work together.

Here's another person who played a key role in creating an autonomous mobile robot for efficient medical services, catching the eye of the judges and winning the grand prize at this year's UK Invention Expo (IBIX). Kanlayanee Kongsomjit, Chairwoman of TKK Corporation Co., Ltd., began her journey as a business owner, eager to leverage her experience and expertise in consulting and distributing products related to robots and factory automation to create innovations that are beneficial to the Thai medical community and truly applicable.

“During the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak, we discovered a significant shortage of medical equipment, including protective gear for medical personnel. At that time, TKK participated in donating these items, starting with PPE kits, alcohol gel, and face masks. At one point, we realized that we could contribute even more to society and medical personnel.”

"Because TKK primarily operates as a distributor and installer of spare parts for industrial machinery, we have the complete equipment to build robots to assist Thai medical personnel. This project to design and manufacture an autonomous mobile robot for medical services, the AGV, was born."

"The equipment, materials, and components used to assemble this robot are all high-quality equipment that we already sell to our customers, who are leading industrial factories. Therefore, we were able to design and assemble the robot to meet its intended purpose of transporting medicines, medical equipment, and various medical supplies. Our designed AGV medical service robot will run on magnetic stripes, assisting medical personnel in their work and reducing the risk of COVID-19 infection."

"In developing this AGV robot, we also had great partners: the Robotics and Automation Innovation Center, Panyapiwat Institute of Management (PIM), and Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Thammasat University, who provided design consultancy and key concepts for the robot's creation."

"While TKK is a business operator in the field of robotic and automation systems for various industrial sectors, the Robotics and Automation Innovation Center at Panyapiwat Institute of Management is an educational institution with expertise in robotics, while the Chulabhorn International College of Medicine has expertise in medicine. When these three organizations collaborated, the idea for creating an AGV medical service robot was born, effectively addressing medical needs."

"The purpose of designing this medical service robot is not to disrupt the work of medical personnel. Rather, we intend for the robot to be an assistant, reducing the burden and risk for medical personnel. This involves performing tasks that do not require the skills of doctors and nurses, reducing contact and the risk of infection. These tasks include transporting and delivering equipment and medicine, among other things."

"And this award, the Innovation Best Award, is given to outstanding innovations. This year, over 1,000 innovators from 40 countries worldwide submitted their work. Ultimately, our autonomous mobile robot for medical services was selected to receive the 2020 Innovation Best Award at the International Invention and Innovation Expo (IBIX). This is a source of pride for Thailand, and this award, received during the COVID-19 pandemic, is a positive development amidst this pandemic."

Revealing the outstanding profile of medical service robots, made by Thais, making a name for themselves on the IBIX stage.

When asked about the outstanding features of this medical service robot, the Chairman of TKK Corporation Co., Ltd. summarized that:

• It can operate in two modes: remote driving via 5G and autonomous driving.
• There is a real-time remote communication system with doctors via a screen installed on the robot to reduce the risk of medical personnel being exposed to infection during operations.
• There is a patient identification scanning system to unlock the drawer and to prevent delivery errors. Patient temperature can be checked without touching.
• There is a germ-killing system after the mission.

“Furthermore, this medical service robot can be manufactured at a reasonable cost. It's designed for user-friendliness, with separate medication and food compartments, and it can return to its battery charging station on its own. All of these functions, when combined, prove the robot's true capabilities, demonstrating its practicality and seamless integration.”

"These medical robots will transform the Thai medical and public health sectors. They will eliminate the need for nurses to perform routine, repetitive tasks, reducing their workload and empowering them to perform other tasks. While it's important to acknowledge that some workers may be removed from certain positions, this doesn't mean they will be fired. They'll simply be upskilled to take on more complex, challenging, or skill-intensive tasks, leaving the robots to handle repetitive tasks."

And in addition to the medical service robots, made by Thais, which have successfully brought fame to Thailand, when asked whether the technology and innovations that TKK is capable of and has expertise in, which have played a role in helping to reduce the burden and risk of medical personnel's work, Kalyanee provided an update on this issue:

"Beyond delivery robots, there are many other digital technology platforms emerging today. The first innovation is the smart vending machine or kiosk, which addresses the problem of patients waiting in line for hospital treatment as early as 4 a.m. From now on, nurses, who were previously required to screen patients, take their temperature, and record documents, will no longer have to perform these tasks. Our smart kiosk will do the work for them. Furthermore, once a card is inserted, it can provide complete patient information, including their healthcare coverage, whether they are eligible for the 30-baht universal healthcare scheme, or whether they have a gold card."

“Next up is Smart Vending Machines, which emerged from the discovery that hospitals have a lot of disposable equipment. Moving forward, we'll reduce the reimbursement process and allow for immediate stock reduction. Smart Vending Machines are easy to install, fast, and affordable.”

Highlighting the opportunities for medical innovation development, which are hidden in the COVID-19 crisis.

Finally, Kalyanee added, "We must thank COVID-19 for helping us reduce the time it takes to research, study, and develop medical inventions and innovations from 5-10 years to just 8 months. From now on, thinkers, academics, and even the general public will continue to innovate to find the opportunities hidden in the crisis."

"Personally, I enjoy the atmosphere during the COVID-19 pandemic. It fosters cooperation, support, and creativity. I strongly believe that this kind of culture is crucial as a predictor of Thailand's future development."

"Because as long as we don't stop thinking and innovating, it means we're not just consumers. We're also developing into thinkers and inventors who take action until innovations are truly usable, not just conceived, invented, and left on a shelf."