A new telerobot for airport concierge services has been showcased by digital signage provider Indy Associates at Passenger Terminal Expo.
The robot, called Caiba, has been developed to communicate with passengers to provide airport and flight information, to offer guidance throughout the terminal, and to generally improve the passenger experience.
Caiba can communicate with people in multiple languages; it can nod for yes and move its head left to right for no; it can show passengers which direction to take by extending an arm; and it can move to guide people to their required destination.
The robots are controlled using wi-fi networks and are easily integrated into existing infrastructure. An operator controls the robot from a control center, which includes screens showing pictures of what the robot sees. Microphones are also installed so the control center can hear what Caiba hears.
According to the company, Caiba will be tested at Tokyo Haneda Airport at some point during 2016/2017. The company also hopes that the solution will be used at the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.
