A team of engineers from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Engineering has designed a robot named the Logistics Indoor Service Assistant (LISA) to support healthcare workers in hospitals, addressing a significant shortage of medical personnel in the Philippines.
Features and Functions
LISA, developed during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, was initially designed to facilitate communication between doctors and patients. Over time, it has evolved to perform various tasks, including:
- Delivering documents or medical supplies
- Disinfecting hospital areas
- Enabling remote consultations through an integrated tablet
“The project has evolved depending on the needs of hospitals,” said project leader and innovator Anthony James Bautista.
Advanced Capabilities
With support from the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health and Research Development (DOST-PCHRD), LISA’s functionality has been significantly enhanced.
The robot now uses simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) technology, equipped with lidar sensors to create a map of the hospital. Once the facility layout is saved in its memory, LISA can autonomously navigate to complete tasks.
Other notable features include:
- Proximity sensors to detect and avoid obstacles
- A mobile app interface allowing users to set destinations within the hospital
Addressing Healthcare Worker Shortages
The Philippines faces a critical shortfall of 190,000 healthcare workers, according to April 2024 data from the Department of Health. Robots like LISA aim to alleviate the workload of medical staff by handling routine and time-consuming tasks.
“The robot can perform basic tasks that ease the burden of healthcare workers,” Bautista said.
Commercial Availability and Customization
LISA is now commercially available and can be tailored to the specific needs of hospitals. The project underscores the role of technology in addressing challenges in the healthcare sector, offering innovative solutions to improve efficiency and support overburdened medical staff.