Saudi introduces guidance robot in Grand Mosque to assist pilgrims

Makkah: The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque together have introduced the Guidance Robot to provide advice to pilgrims on rituals, fatwas on, legal issues to perform Umrah etc. The robot, placed in the courtyard of the Grand Mosque, can communicate in Arabic, English, and Urdu, Arab News Reported.

The deputy president for guidance affairs, Sheikh Badr bin Abdullah Al-Furaih, told Arab News that the robot has access to many books and could get instructions from many scholars of Arab countries. It is equipped with a 21-inch touch screen, four wheels, cameras in front and back, and an intelligent stopping system. It also has definition headphones and a microphone and is connected to a high-speed 5GHz Wi-Fi network. It answers some 100 to 150 questions daily as of now. Most of those who interact with the machine are from Saudi, Syria, Pakistan or India, he said.

Along with the Guidance Robot, the General Presidency has introduced a sterilisation robot as well as a robot to distribute Zamzam water to pilgrims. The robots can last up to eight hours on a single charge.

The digital project's three robots were developed along with the General Presidency's "How To Be A Role Model In The Digital World" campaign, both to cater presidency's extensive plans to develop the Two Holy Mosques.