Singapore's robot dog patrols parks to remind people to wear mask, follow safe distancing

Robot dog Spot which can detect whether visitors wear masks or not is seen during its second round trials in Singapore's Bishan Park, as part of measures against the spread of COVID-19, on Sept. 22, 2020. -Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua

SINGAPORE, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A robot dog called Spot started patrolling Bishan Park in Singapore to remind people of safe distancing measures and detect whether visitors wear masks as part of measures against the spread of COVID-19.

The four-legged robot is on its second round trials, jointly conducted by Singapore's National Parks Board (NParks) and the Smart Nation and Digital Government Group, and has increased capabilities like mask detection, beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) and lidar-free 3D mapping.