Our solution addresses the provided challenge extremely well because it uses a system that helps patients get their needs provided for and it keeps health care workers and family members safe. The biggest problem caused by COVID-19 is not the virus, but the isolation from loved one’s and others we care for which causes people to become depressed. We hope our idea not only puts a smile on the faces of those affected by COVID-19 but that it can also actually be implemented inside of hospitals in the US and around the world.
Astronauts on the ISS often get lonely, to alleviate this problem NASA sends care packages, containing essentials like food, water, oxygen, and gifts to the astronauts eight or nine times a year. They also try to combat this problem by allowing astronauts to talk to their loved ones through the use of video chat services. Taking inspiration from NASA’s tactics, we created Baymax. Baymax, your healthcare companion, is a specialized robot who is equipped with a rotating camera mount and a tray to deliver food and water. You can place a small tray of food on top of the lift and two water bottles in the bottom compartment. Baymax’s camera mount can rotate side to side allowing doctors to monitor their patients. Family members who can’t enter the hospital could call the hospital to talk to their loved ones with the help of Baymax. This can help doctors improve the patient’s mental health while keeping others safe at the same time. Thanks to the compact design, Baymax can easily be lifted up to most desks, tables, and hospital beds making it easy for patients to get the food and water from Baymax.
The purpose of our website is to allow a patient to select what they need, for example, medical assistance, food, or water. When patients request one they will be prompted to enter their room number and once they submit it an email is sent to the designated email based on each of the three categories the hospital can view and provide the requested service. This website is just a simple prototype but in the main version, the website would have a built-in live chat feature, which would show the service needed by the patient. Additionally, there would be more options in which the staff can update to show the patients what services are currently available and unavailable.
When developing the website, we decided what service we will use to make the website page. We decided to use WIX.com. First, we implemented three main buttons so that the patient could choose to summon a robot that would care for the patient in need by providing food and other services. The buttons take the patient to a survey, in which they will be asked what service they need. One of the obstacles we had to overcome when working on Baymax was that we had to change the design to have the capacity to contain the specified amounts of food and beverage. Another constraint we had was getting Baymax’s lift high enough to be able to deliver the food and water to the patients. This project was especially hard for us since all our team members were unable to meet in person but through our hard work, we were able to accomplish something amazing.
Social Isolation is especially important in 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in individuals not being allowed to leave their homes and staying in their houses or hospital rooms all alone, with no family or friends allowed to visit. Since people are always alone it can take a toll on emotional wellbeing and can lead to depression. A study by the Clinical Committee suggests that approximately 53% of Americans suffer from social isolation and in more severe cases this can put people at risk of suicide. Since 1958, NASA has been one of the leading pioneers in space exploration, on average, NASA astronauts spend up to six months at a time in space, sometimes by themselves, or with only a few other people. Living without family and friends can potentially cause astronauts to feel socially isolated and lonely. However, there are some ways NASA has been able to help combat this problem. Cargo ships like the SpaceX Dragon, the Soyuz Progress, and the HTV-9 all deliver cargo with food, water, oxygen, and gifts for the astronauts eight or nine times a year. These cargo ships allow families to send gifts to the astronauts in orbit. Another way NASA has been able to help astronauts combat Isolation is with video chatting services. Families of astronauts can call, video chat, and email the astronauts to keep in touch.
“Free Website Builder: Create a Free Website.” Wix.com, www.wix.com/.
Perez, Jason. “Social Isolation in Context.” NASA, NASA, 23 Mar. 2020, www.nasa.gov/hrp/social-isolation/in-context.
Heiney, Anna. “The SpaceX Crew Dragon: A New Ride to the Space Station.” NASA, NASA, 27 May 2020, blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2020/05/27/the-spacex-crew-dragon-a-new-ride-to-the-space-station/.
A SIRIUS International Isolation Study. (2020). Retrieved 1 June 2020, from https://www.nasa.gov/feature/a-sirius-international-isolation-study
H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV). (2020). Retrieved 1 June 2020, from https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/elements/htv.html
About the Russian Progress Spacecraft. (2020). Retrieved 1 June 2020, from https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/elements/progress_about.html