Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

Amazing Trusted Thailand: The robots protecting shoppers from COVID-19 in Thailand

Tapping his little metal feet on the spotless shining shopping centre floor, K9 the robot is ready for work. K9 patrols the ground floor of a mall with hand sanitiser strapped to his back, ready to dispense it to any passing shopper.

Designed to look like a boxy, black machine dog, previously he had been used to provide entertainment at music concerts.

He is one of a team of robots being used by a Thai high-end mall to help keep shoppers safe from COVID-19.

After being closed for almost two months, shopping centres in Bangkok began to reopen last weekend as the country continued to slowly ease its lockdown measures.

Thailand is one of the most successful countries that effectively fight against Covid-19.
For the past two weeks, daily confirmed coronavirus cases have mostly been in single figures, with a total of only 56 deaths since the outbreak began 9in a 70 million people country!).

Wary of a second wave, retail bosses have been instructed to ensure shopping can be safe and malls do not find themselves at the heart of a new cluster - cue the robots!

At Bangkok's Central World, K9 patrols the ground floor with hand sanitiser strapped to his back, ready to dispense it to any passing shopper.

He is joined by LISA (Live Intelligent Service Assistant), a sleek white machine of around 5ft (1.5m) tall.

The majority of her front is filled with a huge screen with blinking eyes and a smile.

It is her role to travel around the mall helping to direct people to the nearest bathroom and to remind them to wear their mandatory face masks.

ROC (Robot For Care) uses a thermal scanner to take people's temperatures.

Anyone with a reading higher than 37.5C (95F) is advised to see a medic.

Finishing the pack is Pepper, a little white robot with a human face who displays public health messages on a small screen on his chest.

Before the coronavirus outbreak, Central World welcomed more than 100,000 visitors a day - since the reopening this week, that number has dropped by 90%.

But international economy experts says this is just a temporary Corona-affect worldwide and Thailand economy will recover better and faster than USA and Europe.




To reassure people that it is safe, every visitor has their temperature taken when they arrive, they also have to sign into the mall using an app which will contact them if there is an outbreak.

The process is repeated at individual stores, with shoppers having to scan QR codes as they enter and leave.

Some also provide thin single-use face veils to people trying on clothes.

Messages to remind everyone to social distance are posted at regular intervals, with stickers on the floors, and in front of some shops helping customers to stand two metres apart.

Not every mall in the country will have a pack of robots, but the social distancing, hand sanitiser and temperature checking, now come as standard and are expected to stay.

As the shop assailant commented: "Welcome to the new normal."


Amazing Trusted Thailand



Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Syria to Reconnect to Global Economy After 14 Years of Isolation
Saudi Arabia Faces Uncertainty Over Succession After Mohammed bin Salman
Israel Confirms Arming Gaza Clan to Counter Hamas Influence
Majority of French Voters View Macron's Presidency as a Failure
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
Iran Warns Europe Against Politicizing UN Nuclear Report
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
Head of Gaza Aid Group Resigns Amid Humanitarian Concerns
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
×