Alabama State University (ASU) on Tuesday revealed their newly installed technology from the company Draganfly that uses a camera to check an individual’s temperature, heart rate and other vital signs.
If the person submitting themself to the scan does not display any indications that they are infected with the coronavirus, a green light appears and they are free to enter the location where the machine is located.
The entire process requires no human contact and only a few seconds of time.
Each of the five scanners purchased by Alabama State cost $20,000, the money for which came from the federal government’s CARES Act.
Dr. Quinton Ross, Jr., president of Alabama State University, said in a statement that the institution he leads has “implemented a number of safety measures as we prepared for the reopening of the campus.”
“The Smart Thermal Temperature Screening Stations are an added layer of protocols that assist us in identifying and mitigating the risk of the spread of COVID-19,” he continued.
.@ASUHornetNation selects Draganfly to provide the Safe School Solution™ utilizing its Smart Thermal and Vital Sign Screening which detects potential symptoms of #COVID19. https://t.co/PAWSSdnZSH pic.twitter.com/hgjM9xTeLg
— Draganfly Inc. (@DraganflyInc) September 1, 2020
“The stations are an essential tool in screening large groups of people in a short period of time,” added Ross.
The scanners, which are located at the entrances to well-trafficked locations on campus, are only part of the coronavirus-mitigating partnership between Draganfly and ASU.
ASU has also purchased five machines from Draganfly that use surveillance technologies to detect when a group of people is breaking social distancing rules.
The social distancing machines cost around $10,000 each. The university bought five to help guard against people congregating too closely in public areas.
Ross said at the announcement on Monday that the campus currently has zero known cases of COVID-19.
Both Alabama and Auburn have struggled with high numbers of students catching the virus within the first two weeks of returning to campus.
“With all the fear, uncertainty and loss that COVID-19 has caused, we need to change the landscape of public education in Alabama. I am confident that the Draganfly Vital intelligence platform, which fits with the Safely Opening Schools (SOS) Program, will help to do just that,” remarked State Senator Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) on Tuesday.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: henry@new-yhn.local or on Twitter @HenryThornton95
