Guidance robot launched to serve Two Holy Mosques

The GPH General President for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophets Mosque ash-Shaykh Dr Abd Arrahmaan ibn Abd al-Azeez as-Sudays has launched the guidance robot among its efforts in implementing artificial intelligence to serve the two Holy Mosques.

During the launch, he said: “The use of technology has come positively to serve [the] pilgrims and worshippers at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s mosque, especially as the use of automation accomplishes social distancing so that there is no physical contact between the questioner and the mufti.”

He said the guidance system’s capabilities include teaching pilgrims how to perform their religious rites, answering questions of worshippers at the Grand Mosque, simultaneous interpretation, contact with [the] scholars from a distance, and pre-made orientation programmes in multiple languages. He said the guidance system can also be controlled remotely.

The automated system can also support 11 languages such as Urdu, Arabic, English, French, Russian, Persian, Turkish, Malay, Chinese, Bengali and Hausa, he added.

The automated system has a 21-inch touchscreen that can be used for multiple services that interest worshippers at the Grand Mosque, their assistance and guidance. It has four wheels with an intelligent stopping mechanism that allows it to be moved smoothly and easily, high clarity and fidelity front and back facing camera systems that allow it to view its surroundings, high clarity speakers, a high-quality microphone that allows the clear transmission of sound, and a wireless network system (WiFi) at 5 gigahertz, which allows the fast transfer of data.