Oakland International Airport just added a dash of Pepper.
As USA Today reports, Pepper the robot is the newest addition to the airport, taking up its station as a beer connoisseur. Pepper does more than offer suggestions on what brew to imbibe to pass the time. Still, it will be stationed at HMSHost's Pyramid Ale Taproom, which you will find at Terminal 2.
Obviously, there isn't really a need for extra motivation to taste the splendor that is Pyramid beer, but getting to meet a helpful robot just sealed the deal on how you will wait for your flight while roaming this terminal.
SoftBank Robotics has a breakdown of Pepper and the specifics behind its technology. In terms of duties, it reportedly helps highlight the menu and can even suggest fare to potential patrons, and like any great airport employee, Pepper is eager to direct you in the right direction when it comes to your next flight.
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The report quotes HMSHost vice president of innovation Jim Schmitz who explains: "We're always working to identify the next opportunity to elevate the guest experience at airports. Through constant innovation, we aim to engage with travelers and assist them on their journey."
Pepper is certainly a remarkably tech-forward robot; actually able to notice the kind of mood you're in.
SoftBank Robotics explains: "By perceiving and analysing your emotions, and learning to get to know you, Pepper is able to adapt his attitude to suit your own as closely as possible. This constant dialogue between perception, adaptation, learning and choice is the result of what is known as the emotion engine."
This is just the start, USA Today notes, because three similar robots greeted visitors at Mineta San Jose International Airport in October, and we covered back in January that CES 2017 showed a glimpse of where airport help may head with LG's glorious Airbot.
We simply can't wait for the obvious conclusion to all of this, which is when running to our gate also means stopping by to chat things up with a friendly robot.
Now if we can sit next to a robot on the plane then we will really be at our happy place.
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