Although some individuals are beginning to enterprise again into air journey, the extra that they’ll proceed bodily distancing, the higher. A brand new robotic in-airport meals supply service has been launched as a way to assist them achieve this.
Currently in use on the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, the system incorporates a fleet of four-wheeled autonomous “Ottobots” made by robotics firm Ottonomy.
In the current setup, vacationers within the Concourse B space of the airport begin by utilizing a devoted app to buy meals, drinks or journey merchandise from choose shops situated elsewhere within the facility. Once their order has been positioned, workers on the related retailer place the merchandise(s) within the cargo compartment of one of many Ottobots, then ship it on its method.
As the robotic makes its method via the airport, it makes use of a LiDAR module and different sensors to keep away from obstacles resembling individuals, whereas additionally using what Ottonomy describes as a “contextual mobility navigation” system to maintain observe of its whereabouts throughout the facility. Although we’re nonetheless ready to listen to again about what that system entails, different indoor navigation methods sometimes incorporate issues like Bluetooth beacons, strategically positioned camera-readable QR codes, or Wi-Fi alerts.
Ottonomy
The app reveals the shopper the place the Ottobot at the moment is throughout the airport, and alerts them as soon as it is reached their location – it additionally offers them with an order-specific QR code. When the shopper holds that code as much as a scanner on the robotic, it responds by unlocking and opening the lid of its cargo compartment to allow them to retrieve their buy.
The present supply system was designed primarily based on person suggestions from a pilot undertaking that passed off in the identical airport late final 12 months. Customer suggestions from this program will in flip be used when additional increasing the system.
Source: Ottonomy
UPDATE (Dec. 20/02): A consultant for the corporate has knowledgeable us that the Ottobots are capable of finding their method throughout the airport by initially making a “digital twin” – a pc map – of the serviceable space, then subsequently utilizing onboard {hardware} to trace their location inside that map in actual time.