Humanoid Robots Could Be The Latest Addition To Bengaluru Airport's Staff

People travelling through Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) may soon encounter some unusual staff members--two feet tall humanoid robots developed by French robotics company Aldebaran Robotics. Although, no such addition to the airports ground staff has officially been confirmed, a spokesperson stated, “it was too premature to talk about it” to Factor Daily, and as per the report ten of these mini robots are being tested for use at various locations inside the airport such as assisting in passenger check-ins, scanning baggage and boarding passes.

Costing an approximate Rs. 10 Lakh per piece, these belong to Aldebaran’s NAO family of humanoid robots and close to 10,000 of them are being used around the world in the entertainment sector, education, hospitality, travel and sports.

Introduction to NAO, video courtesy of Aldebaran Robotics.

Acquired by Softbank Group in 2013, the company’s NAO robots have the capability to recognise facial features, voice and speech and, as stated in Factor Daily’s report, a multiple language-speaking bot was being used at the Narita International Airport in Tokyo, first at the Mitsubishi Tokyo UFJ store and later moved to other areas of the airport to greet non-Japanese speaking travellers.

“Everyone can construct his own experience with specific applications based on his own imagination and needs,” states the company website. With tactile and ultrasonic sensors, force sensors, infrared sensors, HD cameras, four microphones and high accuracy digital encoders, all controlled and run by a specialised Linux-based operating system called NAOqi, these robots are truly a marvel of technology. Who knows? Maybe the next time you travel through Bengaluru you maybe assisted and greeted by a tiny robot whose capabilities go far beyond its appearance miniature and endearing appearance.

Click here to read the full report by Factor Daily.

Feature image courtesy of Aldebaran Robotics