Akibot: A Telepresence Robot for Medical Teleconsultation

Abstract

One problem in the healthcare industry in the Philippines is the maldistribution of doctors. This greatly affects the accessibility of patients to proper healthcare. As a matter of fact, in 2015, 59.2% of deaths in the Philippines are attributed as deaths unattended by a doctor. Although there are current government programs, which aim to solve this problem, the use of telepresence systems can be another viable solution as doctors can still provide quality healthcare services even when located in a remote area. One limitation of medical telepresence robots is the lack of medical features. For this reason, the developed telepresence system includes a telepresence robot called Akibot with integrated medical devices such as otoscope, stethoscope, and ultrasound probe. Akibot is a highly maneuverable remotely controlled telepresence robot designed for general practice medical consultation between doctors and a patient on a remote area. Akibot has an empathic exterior with 4.6 out of 5 rating on its perceived quality of appearance and is equipped with modular medical devices and highly customizable screen, tested on an Android and Windows OS.