 |
| A 5G K9 robot distributes hand sanitiser to a visitor at a shopping mall in Bangkok. (Photo by=AFP) |
[아시아뉴스통신=레악카나 기자] A robot dog named K9 dispenses hand sanitizer to curious children and wary shoppers as an unexpected measure Thai malls are taking as the kingdom relaxes virus restrictions.
The hi-tech hound is controlled using 5G, a technology promising super-fast internet speeds with immediate reaction times that is still in the first stages of roll out in Thailand.
Mimicking an excited puppy, K9 roams around the popular Central World mall in downtown Bangkok, drawing the attention of delighted children eager to get gel from a bottle attached to its back.
"It's convenient for people to wash their hands, just like a preventive measure... especially in this Covid-19 situation," said a marketing officer for mobile operator Advanced Info Services (AIS).
AIS is aiming to roll out a 5G network for smartphones by the end of the year.K9's 5G-powered comrades include ROC, which checks temperatures, and LISA, a customer service-bot."For K9 especially, people just think it's really cute," Petra told AFP, adding they hope to dispel any fiction-fuelled fear of a robot takeover. "The robots are here to aid people, not to replace them."
