Little kids would love to have robotic companions these days – after all, technology has advanced to such a level where a toy robot is no longer as simple as one lighted up, noisy piece of plastic and electronics that bumps into walls or obstacles only to turn elsewhere after that. No sir, robots these days are smart enough to actually solicit donations from the public, and in the case of the Children’s Hospital in Boston, robots that resemble large toy trains are used to deliver meals to patient floors in the entire facility.
The robots are known as TUGs, and are made available thanks to Pittsburgh-based Aethon, which is actually the leading provider of mobile, self-guided robots to hospitals in the US. TUGs are available in hospitals located throughout the country, although the Children’s Hospital in Boston has the distinction of being the first hospital in New England to implement the specially designed “train” version of the robots.
It goes without saying that this is a child’s idea – from one who is undergoing treatment in the battle against leukemia in San Francisco, where he intended his medications to be delivered by a robot. This has led the local Make-a-Wish Foundation chapter to form a connection between the child and Aethon so that a train-like facade for this particular robot can be created. What do you think of this idea – will it be the norm in other hospitals? [Press Release]