Hong Kong authorities are preparing to test an unusual method for combating the chikungunya virus: a robot dog equipped with an insecticide spray. Thousands of cases of the disease have been recorded in neighboring areas since the beginning of the year. The disease is spread by the Aedes mosquito and currently has no reliable treatment.
According to Xie Jingwang, Director of the Bureau of Ecology and Environment, testing of the first robot dog will begin next month. It will be suitable for hillsides and other remote areas that are difficult for ordinary pest control workers to reach. According to the official, this will help ease the burden on people, especially in hot weather. If the experiment is successful, the number of such robots will increase.
Modern robot dogs are capable of navigating uneven terrain and are equipped with numerous sensors. This system can not only spray chemicals but also detect standing water, record mosquito breeding hotspots, and transmit this data to people in real time.
In the future, robots will be able to predict disease outbreaks and create "smart maps" of threats, making it possible to apply chemicals on a point-by-point basis and reduce harm to nature. However, experts believe that the best solution lies in combining new technologies with traditional methods.
