Interactive robots may soon be coming to an international airport near you.
Several major airports have been trialling robots to improve customer service.
Last year Taiwanese airline EVA Air unveiled its latest technological innovation – two interactive robots called Pepper.
The robots are located at Taipei’s International airport – one by the check-in desks, and another in the reception area of the carrier’s airport lounge.
The robots are able to scan passenger boarding passes before departure.
They can also provide travellers with departure details, destination weather updates and Duty Free special offers, as well as play games, shake hands, dance and pose for selfies.
According to EVA Air, Pepper interacts “through the use of a touchscreen, and through its eyes”, and currently communicates in Chinese, although English and Japanese capabilities will be added by the end of March.
And KLM has been testing its Spencer robot at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, which it hopes will eventually help to guide passengers around the airport.
Two years of construction and programming
The carrier has partnered with organisations including SME Bluebotics, various Dutch universities, and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique to develop the robot, and after two years of construction and programming, Spencer is now ready for testing at KLM’s Amsterdam hub.
The test phase will run until March next year, and will not initially involve passengers.
Eventually it is hoped Spencer will assist transfer passengers to find their way around the airport – especially those with connecting flights.
In a media statement KLM said travellers miss connecting flights every day for all sorts of reasons, including delays, restricted transfer times, losing their way and language barriers.
“KLM intends to use the robot to help transfer passengers find their way from one gate to another as quickly and efficiently as possible at the busy airport.”
The project is being supported by the European Commission, and it is hoped that the robot will ultimately be able to recognise groups, take group behaviour into account, recognise emotions, and “react proactively to unexpected situations”.
