Mobile hospital robots cure numerous logistic needs

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show how mobile robots are addressing a variety of hospital logistic needs.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper includes in‐depth interviews with developers of the Aethon hospital mobile robot logistics system.

Findings

Robotics can greatly improve hospital logistic services such as moving food, lab samples, prescriptions and even add a bit of entertainment in the process.

Practical implications

Hospital administrators have new answers to the old challenges of moving items in a timely and cost‐effective manner around their facility.

Originality/value

Hospitals are first implementers of mobile robotics to look for answers to their logistic problems. They do not have to break new ground for themselves.

Citation

Bloss, R. (2011), "Mobile hospital robots cure numerous logistic needs", Industrial Robot, Vol. 38 No. 6, pp. 567-571. https://doi.org/10.1108/01439911111179075