OAKLAND — Airport travelers needing some assistance at Oakland International Airport now have a robot to help them.
Global restaurateur HMSHost, which operates a slew of airport eateries, has partnered with SoftBank Robotics America to launch a new pilot program with Pepper, a “humanoid” robot designed to offer guidance on food and drink selections and help travelers find their gate, restrooms or exits.
The robot, which is stationed at the Pyramid Ale Taproom inside Terminal 2, is programmed with information customized to the restaurant and the airport. Guests can interact with the robot by speaking to it or typing information into its screen.
“It has a real presence,” said Steve Carlin, vice president and general manager for SoftBank Robotics America.
SoftBank Robotics introduced Pepper the Robot in Japan in 2014 and later launched it in European markets, where it has been filling a sort of customer service role in hospitality, automotive and retail settings, Carlin said. At international retailer Carrefour stores, for example, Pepper robots invite guests into the store, help them pick out magazines and offer wine recommendations, among other things.
The Oakland airport pilot isn’t Pepper’s first stop in the Bay Area. SoftBank partnered with the Westfield Corp. to launch robots in its San Francisco Centre and Valley Fair in San Jose over the holidays. The robots provide information to customers but also try to engage shoppers with their ability to dance and take selfies.
“At HMSHost, we are always working to identify the next opportunity to elevate the guest experience at airports,” said Jim Schmitz, vice president of innovation at HMSHost, in a statement.
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HMSHost operates food and drink locations at airports and is working with SoftBank Robotics to pilot the robot in Oakland. “Through constant innovation, we aim to engage with travelers and assist them on their journey. We are very excited to introduce them to Pepper as part of these efforts.”
While the robots are not yet on the market for individual consumers, SoftBank Robotics is partnering with retailers and hospitality firms to be early adopters. Pricing varies, but the company announced recently that a package of four robots with the software and a three-year warranty would start at about $100,000.
One of the most striking things about the robot is its design, Carlin said. At 4 feet tall, Pepper is “tall enough that you can’t miss it but not too big that it scares small children.”
With two big, expressive eyes, a little nub for a nose, a mouth that is actually a camera and arms that gesticulate, the robot is human-like.
“It’s programmed to move just a little bit … to remind you that it’s there,” Carlin explained. “If you think about it, it’s fundamentally different from where robots have been.”