Context: In order to protect the healthcare workers at hospitals who are taking care of those infected by COVID-19, a robotic device called 'HCARD' (Hospital Care Assistive Robotic Device) has been developed.

About Hospital Care Assistive Robotic Device

• It is developed by Durgapur-based CSIR lab, Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute.
• It is equipped with various state-of-the-art technologies and works both in automatic as well as manual modes of navigation.
• It can be controlled and monitored by a nursing booth with a control station having such features as navigation, drawer activation for providing medicines and food to patients, sample collection and audio-visual communication.
• It could be effective for frontline healthcare officials dealing with COVID-19 patients in delivering services while maintaining mandatory physical distancing.