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Robot dog on virus park patrol in Singapore

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/reuters/05/21/health-coronavirus-singapore-robot.jpg"/><figcaption>A 4-legged robot dog called SPOT patrols a park as it undergoes testing to be deployed as a safe distancing ambassador, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Singapore, May 8, 2020. Edgar Su, Reuters</figcaption></figure></div>SINGAPORE - A yellow robot dog called Spot which found fame online for dancing to hit song &quot;Uptown Funk&quot; has been deployed to patrol a Singapore park and ensure people observe physical distancing.The hi-tech hound is remote-controlled and can clamber easily over all types of terrain, which its creators say means it can go where wheeled robots cannot.As it trots through the park, Spot -- who has the same name as the popular fictional puppy -- uses cameras to estimate the number of visitors. And the robot blasts out a message to ensure joggers and walkers keep their distance to limit the spread of the coronavirus: &quot;For your own safety and for those around you, please stand at least 1 meter apart. Thank you.&quot;Spot, which is being trialed over a 3-kilometer stretch of the park, also has sensors to ensure it does not bump into people. Developed by US company Boston Dynamics, Spot is best known for a video where the robot showed off its moves by bopping to the Mark Ronson hit &quot;Uptown Funk&quot; -- and which has been viewed over 6.8 million times on YouTube.On a recent outing, curious onlookers stopped to watch Spot as the 4-legged invention passed by and snapped pictures on their phones. Gu Feng Min, a visitor from China out for a walk, said the robot was &quot;cute&quot; and useful as a way to &quot;determine how crowded the place is.&quot;Others had misgivings, however.&quot;I think it&#x27;s really going to be chilling in a way -- something is looking around and I&#x27;m not sure how it&#x27;s going to react to me when I go near it,&quot; local resident Simon Neo told AFP.Singapore authorities have played down privacy concerns, saying Spot&#x27;s cameras cannot track or recognize specific individuals and no personal data will be collected. The city-state has reported over 29,000 virus cases, mostly among migrant workers living in dormitories, and 22 deaths.

SINGAPORE - A yellow robot dog called Spot which found fame online for dancing to hit song "Uptown Funk" has been deployed to patrol a Singapore park and ensure people observe physical distancing.

SINGAPORE - A yellow robot dog called Spot which found fame online for dancing to hit song "Uptown Funk" has been deployed to patrol a Singapore park and ensure people observe physical distancing.