Multilingual 'actroid' robots will check you in at this Japanese hotel

Shawn Knight

Posts: 15,294   +192
Staff member

futuristic japanese japan japanese hotel robotics robots humanoid actroid huis ten bosch theme park kokoro

A hotel opening this summer in Japan will be partially staffed by humanoid robots capable of performing a number of common tasks including checking in guests, making coffee, cleaning rooms, carrying luggage and delivering laundry according to a recent report from The Washington Post.

The robots are being sourced from a company called Kokoro which has been developing realistic “actroids” since 2003.

futuristic japanese japan japanese hotel robotics robots humanoid actroid huis ten bosch theme park kokoro

Typically molded to look like a young Japanese woman, the robots are capable of mimicking human behaviors and mannerisms. For example, they appear to breathe, blink and even make eye contact and respond to body language and tone.

For guest convenience, the multilingual hotel bots will speak fluent Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean. They’ll be supplemented by human staff although the eventual plan is to have actroids performing as much as 90 percent of hotel services in the not-too-distant future.

futuristic japanese japan japanese hotel robotics robots humanoid actroid huis ten bosch theme park kokoro

Even without the robots, the 72-room Henn-na Hotel currently under construction at the Huis Ten Bosch historical theme park in Nagasaki, Japan, will be considered rather high-tech. We’re told that guests will be able to unlock their rooms using facial recognition technology while room temperature will be monitored by a radiation panel that can detect body heat.

And instead of calling the front desk when you want to order room service or report an issue, guests can use a hotel-provided tablet.

The Henn-na Hotel plans to open in July with rates starting at $60 per night.

Permalink to story.

 
This can be very annoying...
Um, look, this isn't what I do, but I've got an idea for one of your commercials. You see... a carpenter, making a beautiful chair. And then one of your robots comes in and makes a better chair twice as fast. And then you superimpose on the screen, "USR: Shittin' on the Little Guy". That would be the fade-out.
 
And instead of calling the front desk when you want to order room service or report an issue, guests can use a hotel-provided tablet.

Imagine putting a black light on that tablet and seeing all the gunk! :eek:
 
Back