Daily Briefing: ComfortDelGro trials plastic shields in 400 taxis; Solubots unveils self-cleansing disinfecting robots

And Sirius Ventures leads funding in ShuttleOne.

From Channel News Asia:

ComfortDelGro will install plastic shields in 400 taxis in a trial that aims to minimise contact between cabbies and passengers, according to an announcement.

Dubbed the V-shield, it covers the driver's cabin entirely and is locally made using "an unbreakable material" and will also serve as added protection against "violent physical harm".

Installation of the shields has begun and the taxi operator will continue to roll them out in 50 taxis every week and will be extended to more taxis if the trial is successful.

The shield, which measures 1m by 0.7m by 0.6m, has two window openings to enable cash transaction and will only encase the driver’s cabin area and does not obstruct airflow in the rest of the cab.

Moove Media, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ComfortDelGro, owns the trademark for the shield.

Read more here.

From e27:

Singapore-based startup Solubots unveiled a self-cleansing disinfecting robot (SDR), according to an announcement.

SDRs are said to clean facilities whilst maintaining social distancing and will be capable of cleaning areas the size of a hospital room in less than 30 minutes.

The machine shoots strong jets of disinfecting solution carrying either chlorine or hydrogen peroxide out of its nozzle to clean spaces.

SDRs can either be controlled by operators using a remote control device, or they can utilise their autonomous navigation mode for general disinfecting where they operate entirely on their own.

Still in the trial stage, the products will be distributed locally, as well as in the Southeast Asia region.

Read more here. 

From Deal Street Asia:

Sirius Venture Capital has led a $500,000 seed funding in ShuttleOne, a Singapore-based fintech firm, according to an announcement.

The funding round was joined by German investor Andromed GmbH and private investors from Singapore, Indonesia, and Europe.

The fresh funding will be used to expand ShuttleOne’s company’s operations in Malaysia and Indonesia and to launch its services in Thailand and the Philippines.

The funding will also help improve ShuttleOne’s security modules on the blockchain and improve its corporate governance.

In April, Sirius co-anchored a $3m funding round in Hargol FoodTech, which produces alternative protein from grasshoppers.

Read more here.