How Hong Kong’s young innovators are using technology to build a safer society
- Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Victor Lee has developed robots that can automatically disinfect shopping malls and deliver meals in quarantine hotels
- Mattis Tsang says dedication was crucial as he built a flight simulator to train pilots and students with an emphasis on aviation safety
Inside Hong Kong’s busy K11 Musea shopping mall in Tsim Sha Tsui on the southern tip of Kowloon, a fleet of robots with expressive eyes can be seen moving along different floors and spraying disinfectant into the air.
Named Jasmine, each of these disinfection robots is equipped with two vents, four wheels and a tank that can store up to 10 litres of sterilising solution. They also have sensors that are able to detect obstacles, giving them the ability to move around and sanitise different areas without the need for human guidance.
The robots are the brainchild of Victor Lee, a Hong Kong engineer who founded autonomous robotics start-up Rice Robotics two years ago, and now serves as the company’s CEO. His company is based at Hong Kong Science Park.
His product is a timely creation amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, as companies seek new ways to strengthen hygiene standards and boost customer confidence.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, we have found a lot of demand for new products and new technology,” Lee says. “Our clients want a robot that can carry out disinfection in an area without human intervention, and that’s why we came up with the robot.”
Building robots for a safer tomorrow
