Receptionist roles have been taken up by robots at two Belgian hospitals adding the mechanism to medicine for patients.
The 4ft 7in hi-tech helpers who know 20 languages are the next step for medicine and they have previously been used as rehabilitation support
Pepper, the humanoid assistant speaks slowly and judders when he moves, but he’s 100% friendly when offering a welcome to visitors at hospitals in Ostend and Liege.
Wearing a screen on his chest and a round head, Pepper is the first robot in the world to be used to greet people in a medical setting, his software creators said.
Unveiled at the Centre Hospitalier Regional La Citadelle, the 4ft 7in robot moves on wheels and has recognition for 20 languages.
He can also establish whether he’s speaking to a woman or child.
Costing around £23,775, it’s hoped that Pepper will soon be able to accompany patients to their required destination in Liege as he already is in AZ Damiaan hospital in Ostend.
Standing under 5ft tall, Pepper has been used before in retail functions
The Belgian firm Zora Bots developed the software and says Pepper’s components come from Asia but are assembled in France.
The humanoid robot is intended to guide and inform visitors to the hospital
They have previously been tested in Japanese shops and French malls: “But it’s the first time that they will be used in reception,” said a spokesperson.
Pepper has a screen on his chest and a round head.
Smaller robots named Nao, standing 57cm tall, have been produced by the same company and are currently used in 300 hospitals and care homes worldwide.
In Liege and Ostend, they are used as a support tool in the paediatric and geriatric departments.