Flughafen Munchen, the operator of Munich Airport in Germany, together with airline operator Lufthansa, has begun testing a humanoid robot called Josie Pepper in Terminal 2 (T2). It is the first time a humanoid robot equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) has been trialled at a German airport.
Developed by SoftBank Robotics, Josie Pepper is capable of directing passengers to terminal amenities such as restaurants and lounges, as well as providing gate and flight information in real-time.
The robot has been equipped with a high-performance processor with WLAN internet access, enabling it to connect to a cloud service from IBM Watson, which then processes and interprets the passenger’s request before forming a response.
Josie Pepper will be deployed airside and will await passengers near the shuttle connecting T2 to the satellite facility. At 120cm (47in) in height, the robot provides an ideal companion for entertaining children and providing a memorable passenger experience.