Africa innovates Magazine -AI4DEV - Flipbook - Page 23
One foot isn’t
enough to walk with
Egyptian Proverb
C I R A - 0 2 : T H E C OV I D - 1 9 D I A G N O S T I C R O B O T
At the Roboto Academy in Tanta City, Northern Egypt, 26-year-old Mahmoud el-Komy,
a mechatronic engineer, tested a robot he had designed and invented to diagnose
infection and post-infection medical care related to COVID-19. To the amazement of
all in the academy, the robot worked with incredible precision.
Anyone facing Mahmoud’s robot, named Cira-02, will have their
scanned results displayed openly on the monitor, which forms
its chest. Cira-02 stands on four wheels, which also enhances
its portability. Passing or standing in front of the robot elicits
an automatic COVID-19 temperature scan. Cira-02 has sensors
and a place to rest one’s chin for the COVID-19 PCR test. Should
Cira-02 diagnose one as infected it raises an alarm to the health
authorities. The robot’s right shoulder is configured to act as a
barrier to block entry for those diagnosed as infected.
Cira-02 is Mahmoud’s improved version of Cira-01 with upgraded sensors and rapid fever tests together with oral functionalities.
According to Mahmoud Cira-02 is suitable for use
in public places such as airports, banks, railway stations and
shopping malls. Roboto Academy is structurally designed at
teaching children using robots and among volunteers who
worked with Mahmoud were several teenagers.
Mahmoud’s design is the pride of Egypt as the Egyptian
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
(MCIT) has already offered to fully support Mahmoud’s Cira03 version and is giving him all the support he needs to
develop robots and gadgets capable of detecting other
emerging diseases.
SHOWCASING AFRICAN INNOVATION 23
