Meet Bump, a new wearable device that warns people when they do not socially distance

As coronavirus continues to take a toll on people around the world, a team of engineers at UK robotics startup Tharsus got together and came up with an idea to develop a social-distancing system that will give people the confidence they need to safely return to work.

In just nine weeks, this multidisciplinary task force assembled by Tharsus completed the development of a fully-functional wearable device called Bump. The team, which includes engineers and businesses from across the UK, Switzerland, Greece, and New Zealand, worked together under lockdown conditions to make the idea a reality.

So, what does Bump really do? Bump is a Personal Motion System designed to help people understand the way they move around a workplace and when they interact. It’s a combination of wearable devices and data management. It provides real-time alerts when wearers get too close. Bump also sends signals when wearers forget to socially distance.

Bump is different from mobile apps because it’s real-time and preventative. Unlike mobile apps which only work retrospectively by tracing post-event contacts, Bump tracks interactions, not people. The device helped the 2020 London Marathon take place despite the Covid-19 restrictions.

Tharsus is led by CEO Brian Palmer FREng and CTO Dave Swan, the technology’s smart data insights inform rapid decision making, allowing employers to maximize workplace capacity and providing data on team contact in the event of an outbreak.

Below are videos of Bump in action.

Here is another video overview of Bump.