The Lebanese University delivered on 6 May 2020, the V1 of the Robot “Lebot” to the “Corona Unit” at the Rafik Hariri University Hospital. Funded by the Lebanese University and developed by the students of the Faculty of Science in cooperation with “Rimo Manufacturing & Trading Est”, “Lebot” will be used to deliver food and medical supplies to patients or facilitate communications between the patients and the medical team via Video Call.
The robot was delivered in a press conference held in the presence of the Minister of Health, Dr. Hamad Hassan, the Minister of Industry, Dr. Imad Hoballah, the President of the Lebanese University, Professor Fouad Ayoub, the Director of the Rafik Hariri University Hospital, Dr. Firas Al Abyad, the Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Bassam Badran, the Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Professor Pierre Yared, the Head of the Neuroscience Research Center at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Professor Youssef Fares, the Director of the Faculty of Science (Branch 1), Professor Yasser Mhanna, Dr. Bassem Haydar and Dr. Siba Haydar from the Faculty of Science, and the Project Supervisors, in addition to the students who participated in the robot design, Majd Dhainy, Hadi Zinedine, Sami Shams el-Din, Adel Hajj Hassan, Zaher Chehadi and Baker Naim.
The conference started with a speech given by Dr. Firas Al Abyad, in which he explained the importance of this achievement, through which human interaction will be reduced, food and medicine will be transported to patients and communication between the medical and nursing teams and patients will be done via Video Call, which is a safe way for both parties. Dr. Al Abyad pointed out the importance of cooperation between the hospital and the Lebanese University as public institutions, benefitting the whole country.
Minister Hamad Hassan considered that Lebanon today is distinguished on the international level by cooperation, mutual support, sense of responsibility and empathy. He considered this day as a "Technological Innovation Day” because this additional achievement for the Lebanese University students will be put in the service of patients and the protection of the nursing and medical body. Minister Hassan stressed that the cooperation was sponsored by the successful Presidency of the Lebanese University and encouraged by the Minister of Industry, adding that this achievement, even though difficult to obtain, was successfully attained despite all circumstances. On behalf of the Lebanese community, Minister Hassan thanked the team of the Rafik Hariri University Hospital who helped restore confidence in government institutions. He said: "We are living in a historical phase during which all government hospitals throughout the Lebanese territory are witnessing rehabilitation, and we call all parties to invest in the public sector and create a new approach for the country and the citizen."
Minister Imad Hoballah praised the efforts of the Lebanese University students to attain this achievement, and expressed his pride of being an alumni of this university. He considered that this initiative is an effective, clear and honorable integration between two public institutions - the Lebanese University and the Rafik Hariri University Hospital - demonstrating merit, efficiency, science, specialization, innovation, service, giving without asking, reflecting the ability to compete and advance over similar medical and educational institutions in Lebanon and the region.
Minister Hoballah pointed out that engaging in technology and robotic industry and employing them in the field of human service is a big challenge successfully overcame by our students. “We, in the Ministry of Industry, encourage and support new industries, namely in the field of knowledge and smart industries based on innovation and added value that the Lebanese youth give with their knowledge, creativity, flexibility and adaptation. We are working to link university majors to the needs of the industry, which is one of the sectors most capable of employment.” At the end of his speech, Minister Hoballah praised again the efforts to achieve this innovation and the cooperation between the Lebanese University and the Rafik Hariri University Hospital, hoping to further strengthen the partnership between the public and private sectors to contribute to the rising of Lebanon as soon as possible.
The President of the Lebanese University, Professor Fouad Ayoub, revealed that five models of the robot will be delivered to the “Corona Unit” within 20 days and will be equipped with a self-control device. He announced that another achievement for the university will be revealed soon, consisting of a respiratory device which can transform into a device for general anesthesia after the end of COVID-19 crisis, in addition to a number of applications and programs, including a program to track the locatiob of patients over the phone with the assistance of the Ministry of Communications.
President Ayoub added: "Today we adopted a collective research working approach. We saw how a group of students managed to think and accomplish in order to help their volunteer colleagues and protect them from COVID-19. With time, we discovered that they are assisting in reducing financial costs, namely on the issue of protective clothing, and finding solutions to a number of other problems." President Ayoub pointed out that the real partnership in the public sector contributes to overcoming all difficulties, stressing the close and permanent cooperation between the Lebanese University, the Rafik Hariri University Hospital and the Ministry of Public Health.
