Atmabot to help medical workers amid Covid-19

As the number of Covid-19 cases rises in Indonesia, so does the need for medical workers. Worldmeter‘s report placed Indonesia in number 23 among countries with most Covid-19 cases by 110.000 cases and 5300 deaths, which is a 4,7% positively infected case. The Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) on their Agust 2020 repost state at least 72 medical doctors have fallen due to the virus. Dentists and nurses are also among those medical workers who infected by coronavirus while helping the patients. 

Seeing this problem, Atma Jaya Faculty of Engineering launched a service robot called ATMABOT. The robot was supported by the Atma Jaya Engineering Faculty Alumni Association (AKU TEKNIK) and Atma Jaya Hospital. Atmabot intended to help medical workers to minimalized direct contact with the Covid-19 patients. 

The Atmabot project was handled by the Engineering Faculty Robotics and IoT Center (PATRIOT) and involved faculty members, students and alumni, and collaborating with doctors from Atma Jaya Hospital. The team consists of Nova Eka Budiyanta, M. Pd., M.T., Ir. Linda Wijayanti, M.Sc., Dr. Ing. Widodo Widjaja Basuki, Ir. Harlianto Tanudjaja, M.Kom., IPM., Ir. V. Budi Kartadinata, S.E., M.T., IPM., dr. Cisca Kuswidyati Sp.M, M.Sc., Rizki Surya Permana, S.Pd., dan Vincentius Raditya Putra. 

Students involved in this project may use this opportunity for a case study learning process in mapping and solving problems during the production of AtmaBot. AtmaBot is also a contribution from the Engineering Faculty for Indonesia, marking the Atma Jaya 60th and Engineering Faculty the 59th anniversary. 

Designing Chief and lecturer, Nova Eka Budiyanta said this project meant to lighten the burden medical workers, 

"This project aimed to relieve the burden of the medical workers at Atma Jaya Hospital whose taking care of the Covid-19 patient at isolation room. Wo hope to reduce direct contact between the medical workers and patient," said Nova. 

Nova explained some functions of Atmabot, which able to deliver medicine and meals. Through a video conference function, this robot enables the communication between the two parties. 

"The Atmabot facilitates the doctor‘s visit, deliver medicine and meals to the patients. Operated by remote control and equipped with a video conference to communicate, the robot will help to address the PPA shortage issue." 

Along the making proses, which take almost four-month, Atmabot has been passed the function and safety operation standard for wireless remote control. The production team expects to register the Atmabot for intellectual property rights soon. 

"Hopefully, our efforts may help accelerate the handling of Covid-19 at Atma Jaya Hospital, and we can multiply this robot to help other hospitals as well." 

Robotics and IoT Center (PATRIOT) is a vessel for the cross-discipline program to conduct research, competition, and learning development media. Other than Atmabot, PATRIOT has developed the Arm 6 DOF robot for industry and autonomous vehicle. PATRIOT also created mobile robot for pipeline and hybrid inspection (with dual function legged and wheeled robot), which qualified for the National Student Scientific Week (PIMNAS) and received an award from the Ministry of Youth and Sports. 

Other developments are robotic projects for student‘s learning media. The result aims as community service through robotics training and scientific publication in seminars or national and international journals.