Kaohsiung, Taiwan - Students at an
elementary school in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung
have found their own unique way to fight the coronavirus and
stay ahead of the curve in epidemic prevention - an automated
disinfectant dispenser built from Lego.
Children ranging from six to 12 years old use every school
break and any chance they can get to line up to use their
self-built alcohol disinfectant robot that some of their peers
have assembled under the guidance of their robotics coach.
"Washing hands is super," shouts a recorded voice after the
dispenser senses a pair of hands in front of its ultrasonic
sensor and dispenses alcohol disinfectant from a spray bottle by
pulling back its handle with a motor and gearwheel mechanism.
Next to the robot, there are scenes crafted by the younger
students showing various situations that require the washing of
hands: an operating table in a hospital, a toilet and a flower
garden.
One year after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan in
2011, teachers at the Linyuan Elementary School decided the
students should learn about the basic principals of robotics.
An elementary school student uses a self-built motion sensor-controlled disinfectant dispenser assembled with Lego parts, following a novel coronavirus outbreak, in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung. File picture: Fabian Hamacher/Reuters
The school is situated in an industrial area, dominated by
the petrochemical sector.
Teachers wanted to teach the children to be able to solve
problems in their hometown in the future - such as fire, air
pollution and gas explosions.
Since then, the school has represented Taiwan in many
international competitions abroad and won several prizes with
its robotics club.
File picture: Fabian Hamacher/Reuters
While Taiwan has only recorded 45 cases of the coronavirus,
compared with more than 80,000 on the other side of the Taiwan
Strait in China, the island is on high alert to prevent further
infections.