Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru is testing robots to help improve the passenger experience at the airport.
The airport in southern India is running a test where 10 AI-driven robots are helping guide passengers through the airport and answer simple queries from them.
The 100-cm tall robots can guide passenger in the airport as they navigate autonomously through the terminal and escort passengers to their desired locations.
They do this safely as they have built-in navigation for the part of the area they are working, LIDAR (light detection and ranging), depth sensors and ultrasonic sensors.
The robots will also answer simple passenger queries in English. They can help with a variety of services including providing information on flight status, passenger services, directions and information about shops and food and drink.
The robots can answer questions like:
- where is the restroom?
- where can I get drinking water?
If the robot is unable to answer queries, passengers will be connected to the ‘Airport Help Desk’ via a video call on the screen on the robot.
The number of robots will be increased and their functionality improved once passenger feedback is analysed.
Jayaraj Shanmugam, Chief Operating Officer, BIAL:
“Pre-empting passenger requirements and complementing new-age technology with a focused customer-centric team approach has been our winning combination. These smart robots are the latest addition to our offering which shall further boost our concentrated endeavor to provide exceptional customer service.”
Supplier
The robots are supplied by Indian-company Artiligent Solutions, a specialists in artificial intelligence (AI) and Robotics. They are based on Artiligent’s Temi robot.
Rupesh Sawant, Chief Executive Officer, Artiligent:
“Innovative technology is revolutionising airtravel across the world. Artiligent ideated the AI_PORT concept to develop an enhanced airport experience for travellers. We are proud to associate with BLR Airport, the first airport in India to launch our solution and take a leap in their digital transformation journey.”
Robots at airports (and ports)
The number of robots trialled at airports (and ports) is increasing and includes:
- AnBot at Shenzhen Airport
- ASIMO at Tokyo Narita
- Athena at Los Angeles
- Bill for British Airways at Heathrow T5
- EMIEW3 at Tokyo Haneda
- FRAnny at Frankfurt
- GLAdys at Glasgow
- Nao for Japan Airlines at Tokyo Haneda
- Leo at Geneva
- Master Pepper at Prague
- Norma, Amelia, and Piper at San Jose
- Ottobot at Cinncinnatti
- Pepper at Christchurch
- Pepper for EVA at Taipei
- ‘Sheldon’ at Indianapolis
- Spencer at Amsterdam Schiphol
- Temi at Bengaluru Airport
- Unnamed at Seoul Incheon
- Zunpeng Xiaobao for Shenzhen Airlines
Our favourites remain AnBot at Shenzhen Airport with the cattle prod and the Sheldon Cooper lookalike at Indianapolis.
N.B. Image credit: Bengaluru Airport