Karthik Velayutham, an innovator from Coimbatore, has built this robot which would stand in long queues and buy liquor for him. Karthik built this machine in two days and at a cost of Rs 3,000

It was one of those days when many in Coimbatore were standing in a long queue to buy their liquor bottles. Little did they know there was a small four-wheeler machine standing in the queue along with them. Why? To buy liquor for its creator and to spread awareness about the need for social distancing to keep coronavirus at bay.

Karthik Velayutham, an innovator from Coimbatore, has built this robot which would stand in long queues and buy liquor. “This is an awareness campaign to make people understand the need for social distancing in this time of a pandemic,” Karthik said.

Karthik built this machine in two days and at a cost of Rs 3,000. The 31-year-old computer engineer says that his machine can be operated from anywhere in the world.

“By using this Robo, you can maintain social distancing. It can provide services in hospitals where doctors and nurses can use this to dispatch medicines without personally interacting with the patients.”

“The Robo can be used from anywhere in the world using the internet. All you need to do is enter the login details,” Karthik added.

The Robo is currently being used using an android phone. There are video and call facilities and the owner can use these to interact and operate it with other people. The Robo at present can carry up to 30 kg of weight, and it has a backup power of six to seven hours.

How does it buy liquor? Kathik can instruct the shopkeepers via the video facility on the robot. The shopkeepers can provide him the essentials. The payment is made online.