Lost? Airport Robot Will Help You

We have a love-hate relationship with airports. They bring us closer to our destination but they're also inconvenient, and confusing. Here's where Spencer comes in. Spencer is an AI robot that will assist you the next time you get lost or confused in Amsterdam's airport.

A joint venture between Sweden's Orebro University, Dutch airline KLM, and researchers from five different nations, with funding provided by the European Commission resulted into the creation of Spencer.

The AI's primary role in the airport is to assist passengers when they're confused and to point directions to those who need it, and the usual everyday passenger assistance.

"Navigating an airport is challenging, there is a lot of glass and a constantly changing environment in terms of temporary obstructions, such as parked luggage trolleys and people everywhere...It is surprisingly difficult to fit all the pieces together. A small error somewhere along the line may take an unpredictably long time to discover and work out," Spencer Project leader Achim Lilienthal shared.

Spencer was KLM's answer to reports where more and more passengers are missing their flights simply because they get lost in the airport.

With the motive to help, Spencer goes around Schiphol Airport offering help through its information screen.

"The advent of robotics is, strategically, an important development, for which we have prepared and which we want to test. KLM is of the opinion that robotics will have a growing impact on air transport in the coming years. We are testing technology in several areas, to assess if and how robotics would augment our processes. These developments are wholly in line with KLM's objectives with regard to innovation, as one of the cornerstones of strategy. At KLM, the chief purpose of robotics will probably be to offers staff and customers even better support, using innovative technology," said Michel Pozas, Vice President Customer Innovation & Care AFKL

Although Spencer is still in its trial stage, its creators are confident that this development will lead to the use of AI robots even outside the airport.

"This technology can be used in all robots intended to interact with humans. Autonomous trucks for example, would be more widely accepted if they functioned better in their interaction with humans," Lilienthal said.