Later this year, you might look out the window of your plane and see a robot loading your suitcase into the cargo hold.
Japan Airlines is set to launch a two-year experiment in May during which a team of “humanoid” robots will be responsible for handling ground operations at Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND).
The AI-powered mechanical crew members will first be used to load and unload cargo containers. Eventually, the airline hopes to utilize the robots to load and unload passengers’ luggage and perform additional duties such as cleaning the aircraft cabin.
The goal of the trial is to find a creative solution to an ongoing ground handling labor shortage, which is particularly pronounced in Japan amid skyrocketing tourism numbers and an aging population.
The experiment is the first of its kind in Japan and will first begin by analyzing where robots can operate safely on the airport tarmac. The trial will then see the robots trained in a simulated airport environment before deploying them on the front lines, first at Tokyo Haneda.
The robots are specially designed and programmed by GMO AI & Robotics, and they “possess a range of motion and adaptability comparable to humans,” the airline said. “Being human-shaped allows their introduction without significant modifications to existing airport facilities or aircraft structures.”
The experiment is set to take place at Japan’s major domestic airports until 2028.
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