HOSPI, an autonomous delivery robot, is now scooting through live tests in Japan. Created by Panasonic, this robot is built to autonomously deliver goods using pre-programmed mapping information, sensors, and collision-avoidance algorithms.
This five-foot machine is quite the overachiever. Roaming around Japan’s ANA Crowne Plaza Narita hotel, HOSPI offers beverages to hotel guests and notifies travelers about bus departure times. At the end of January, HOSPI will move its talents to the Narita International Airport, carrying dirty dishes to be cleaned by staff at the travel lounge.
This isn’t the first time HOSPI was tested outside of the lab. A few years ago, the robot delivered medicine to doctors and strolled around the corridors of Japanese hospitals. What makes this robot popular with the public is its seemingly friendly appearance, using a screen to display animated facial expressions and speakers for communication.
Watch this helpful robotic assistant in action in the video below.