Robot maker seeks world-beating edge

Chalermpon Punnotok, chief executive of CT Asia Robotics, said that the company will introduce a fourth generation of its mini robots, sold as the Dinsow mini, for use in the healthcare industry. They will be able to measure people’s vital signs such as blood pressure and heart rate, as well as detecting evidence of fever and gauging blood sugar levels and oxygen saturation, by the end of this year.
The company has been providing the Dinsow mini robots for the care of the elderly and the bed-ridden. It will also develop robots to help look after old people who are still living at home.
 “We are engaging with information technology and other innovations in robotics such as the use of micro leader sensors and smell-detection sensors that can enable the robots to take care of elderly patients staying in their homes,” Chalermpon said.
He said that the firm has collaborated with partners, such as hospitals and doctors, on the development of a robotics prototype that will be able to smell-check patients with the use of a gas sensor to diagnose lung cancer, with an accuracy rate of more than 80 per cent. It aims to increase the accuracy rate to more than 90 per cent by the end of this year. As a result, robots will able to help doctors to screen patients in hospitals. The company expects that its robots will play a support role in hospitals in rural areas. In this way they can broaden the access to medical services for ordinary people, Chalermpon said
The company is also developing a robot to diagnose tuberculosis in patients.
 “I think that the world is entering into the use of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) to support people in their day to day lives,” said Chalermpon said. “Robotics will able to create unique segmented areas in a range of markets, such as for the care of the elderly and children as well as in the hospitality and entertainment sectors. 
“However, we chose to develop robotics systems to take care of old people and bed-ridden patients and we have done so by engaging with deep information technology and innovations in order to create a long-term sustainable business.”
In Bangkok, the firm provides its Dinsow robots in the Chulalongkorn and Siriraj hospitals. It has also distributed the devices to countries such as Japan, German and Sweden. It expects to expand sales to Canada and Hong Kong at a later stage.
It has distributed more than 100 Dinsow mini robots in the Japanese market, focusing on nursing homes. The company expects that it will have around 500 of its robotics in use in Japan by the end of this year. 
It has sold around 200 of the robots in Thailand, put to use in areas such as entertainment and the food sector, in addition to the healthcare industry.
Chalermpon said the company began work on its robotics line nine years ago, with the first product then unveiled as Dinsow. The company has continued with the standalone Dinsow and the Dinsow mini.
It will spend money more than Bt100 million on research and development by the end of this year, and has a capacity to produce more than 400 robots a year.
“I hope that my robotics will be installed in every hospital and nursing home in Asia within the next three years," Chalermpon said.
He said the company is developing what it calls an ecosystem for robotics products that can look after old people and other bed-ridden patients, adding a mobile application and a marketplace geared for the needs of the elderly.