10 of the World’s Most Promising Airport Robots

Smart airport robots are gaining attention among domestic and international travelers. From giving directions, scanning boarding passes, and entertaining passengers, to handling baggage, cleaning, and patrolling airport grounds, these humanoid robots have come a long way in helping create passenger-friendly airports.

Want to catch a glimpse of the future of commercial air travel? You might run into one of these inventions if you’re flying through any of these international airports.

Incheon International Airport - LG robots
One of the biggest airports in Seoul is about to have LG robots working full-time. These humanoids can perform basic to advanced airport cleaning tasks and assist lost passengers. The robots have straightforward names that clearly describe their functions: Airport Guide Robot and Cleaning Robot. The prototypes of these robots were unveiled at the most recently concluded Consumer Electronics Show (CES). According to tech news insiders, these robots are certainly among the top emerging trends to watch this year.

Glasgow Airport - GLAdys
It’s not everyday that you can get a selfie with a robot. More so, you don’t often see a humanoid sing, dance, and tell Christmas-related tales. You’re likely going to witness this spectacle when you pass through Glasgow Airport and meet GLAdys in person. It’s the first robot entertainer that a UK airport has ever seen. Kids are sure to be pleased when they interact with the newest addition to Glasgow Airport’s ground crew. If you’d like to see other passengers who have had a positive encounter with this robot, check the social media posts from Glasgow Airport’s digital team with the hashtag #GLAdysRobot.

San Jose International Airport - Norma, Piper, Amelia (Customer Service) and iPal (Childcare)
The US has produced all sorts of movies where robots almost resemble human-like form, function, and character. While San Jose International Airport is quite far from making robots that function like humans, they are making progress. Norma, Piper, and Amelia are smart robots newly added to the airport’s customer service crew. Their bodies are built with touch-screen monitors where passengers press buttons to find their way around the airport. No, they can’t sing or tell stories, but they can certainly move to a beat. Check them out if you’re passing through this airport. iPal has also been tried and tested in this airport, serving as robotic nannies that entertain young travelers, much to their parents’ delight.

Haneda Airport - EMIEW3
In September 2016, Haneda Airport visitors encountered this humanoid robot, EMIEW3, during the trial. Armed with the complex navigation information of Tokyo’s airport, EMIEW3 speaks Japanese or English to passengers who need assistance finding their way around the airport. It’s so exciting when it answers, “Please follow me,” after you ask a basic question like, “Where’s the duty-free shop?” Expect future versions to process more languages, like Korean and Chinese.

Taipei Songshan Airport - Pepper
EVA Air introduced Pepper to Taipei Songshan Airport in December 2015. Three of its kind will be roaming the airport grounds to welcome passengers and guide them to where to shop, rest, play, or eat. Another part of its job is to scan boarding passes and tell passengers about the weather at their chosen destination. This 121-cm, 29-kg robot is designed by Softbank Corp. (a Japanese tech company) and built by Taiwan’s Hon Hai Precision Industry Co.

Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam - Spencer
Schengen passengers passing through Schiphol Airport might get a chance to meet and greet a celebrity robot roaming its spaces. This emotion-detecting smart droid assists passengers in distress by offering accurate directions. Another awesome thing Spencer does is scan your boarding pass. This robot looks like Wall-e (but it doesn’t recycle).

Geneva Airport - Leo
Baggage handling has been redefined through advancement in robotics. According to what we’ve seen, robots can now handle this mundane task. And when it comes to tackling baggage movement in airports, Leo is leading the way. Have two 32-kg suitcases you want to check in? It’s not a problem for this autonomous baggage robot to take care of the task. Don’t miss this fascinating technology when you pass through Geneva Airport.

Edmonton International Airport - Furo
Canadians always keep it cool even when it comes to airport robots. Introducing Furo, a smart robot that can detect and show emotions. Passengers who are lost will not only get directions, but Furo will also move along with them to show the way. A language barrier is not a problem because this robot can process as least 30 different languages.

Shenzen International Airport - AnBot (RoboCop)
Airport security matters more than ever, especially in one of China’s busiest airports in Guangdong. To improve security and service, Shenzen International Airport officials are leveraging advanced robotic systems, such as facial recognition and remote-controlled tasers, to prevent any threats. These RoboCops, China’s first service and security droids, were revealed in April 2016 at the Chongqing International Tech Fair.

Dubai International Airport - Amer Robot
Have a visa issue or query you want answered fast? In an air travel hub as busy and massive as Dubai International Airport, immediate assistance can be hard to come by. But now there’s Amer Robot, a visa-assisting machine. Unveiled during the 35th Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (Gitex) in October 2015, Amer Robot is not only programmed to answer visa-related questions, but it also has the power to renew and issue visas to passengers. By introducing these robots, officials expect to cut operational costs and facilitate passenger movement through the airport.