The new UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay in San Francisco has 25 "Tug" robots, comprising the largest fleet of free-roaming hospital robots in the world, according to an article on the Computer World website.
Robots will haul blood samples, food, medication, biohazardous waste and other materials and supplies around the huge facility. The robots are designed to reduce workplace injuries among hospital staff and let caregivers focus on care, the article said.
UCSF said that hospitals have workforce injury rates four times the average in private industry, largely because humans are expected to carry very heavy things for long distances.
The Tugs are trained to navigate around people and gurneys. An in-house programmer and technician are tasked with improving their wayfinding.
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