In photos: Beijing Olympic robots take the temperature of the room
Don’t let its cute blue tie and shirt collar fool you. The robot roaming the hallways at the Ice Cube curling venue is all business at the Olympic Games. Standing about four feet tall with a black base, white midsection and video screen for a face, the robot takes the temperature of anyone who crosses its path. Walk within six or seven metres of the robot and it will take your temperature. One intrigued journalist crossed the hall and saw their image with a 36.0 C reading in green colouring appear on the screen. Strict restrictions are in place during the Winter Olympics as China pursues a zero-COVID strategy. Olympic-related personnel, media and athletes are in a closed-loop bubble for the Games, which continue through Feb. 20. Robots are in use at several Olympic venues. In the main media centre, a large robotic arm mixes and pours drinks in the bar area. Robot chefs prepare food and large robot vacuums help keep the floors clean.
A temperature-checking robot is shown at the Ice Cube curling venue at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.Gregory Strong/The Canadian Press
A robot makes cocktails in the Main Media Center of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
A robotic cocktail maker is pictured at the Olympic's Main Media Centre in Beijing, China.Carl Court/Getty Images
A worker grabs food delivered to a table robotically in the media dining area of the main media center ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.Jae C. Hong/The Associated Press
Robotic cleaning machine operates at the Olympic's Main Media Centre in Beijing, China.Carl Court/Getty Images
A robotic bartender mixes drinks at the main media centre at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press
A worker and a robotic janitor clean the floor of the main media center ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics, in Beijing.Jae C. Hong/The Associated Press
A robot moves through the hallway of a hotel spraying disinfectant against the COVID-19 ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, in Yanqing, China.WOLFGANG RATTAY/Reuters
An attendant pours coffee as a robot makes a fresh pot in a waiting area within the closed-loop bubble at the Taizicheng train station ahead of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images
Canadian technician Matthew Potvin reaches for his lunch delivered to him robotically in the dining area of the main media center at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.Jae C. Hong/The Associated Press
A robotic cooking machine making a beef burger is pictured at the dining hall at the Main Press Centre ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.FABRIZIO BENSCH/Reuters
A worker opens the door of a delivery robot at the Main Distribution Center built to provide logistic support for the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing, China.Ng Han Guan/The Associated Press