Japan Airlines (JAL) just announced it will begin using humanoid robots for ground handling work at Haneda Airport starting next month. It will be part of a multi-year trial “designed to reduce pressure on staff and address labor shortages.”
According to The Independent, JAL said the project at HND “will be led by a JAL subsidiary and run with GMO AI & Robotics, a company that promotes the social implementation of artificial intelligence and robotics.”
The trial will initially focus on cargo handling tasks, including loading and unloading containers. Future uses could include aircraft cabin cleaning and operating ground support equipment around planes.
In a media demonstration that took place this week, Chinese-made robots were shown carrying out work near an aircraft. A video now circulating widely on social media shows one robot, described as 4.2 feet (130 cm) tall, pushing cargo onto a conveyor belt and waving at the end.
That said, the robot didn’t look particularly stable or especially productive, and much of social media seemed to agree. See comments below:
@Bart05275751: Looked like that robot had had a few sake before starting work 😅
@CredoMacKenzie: Come on, it’s clearly not actually pushing the cargo container. The loader is moving the container. It’s what the loader always does. The robot isn’t doing anything other than waving, which indicates it’s teleoperated.
@c_gardenholic: It’s not about a shrinking population. I’m pretty sure there are people looking for jobs. It’s about not paying a decent salary.
@CrimsonLi: It would have been so much more efficient and cost-effective if they actually made robots instead of trying to mimic humans.
@Theonash_: Just no. This literally does not work, financially or technically.
@GvSketches: If this is implemented in Canada, maybe luggage will be less destroyed when it arrives 😆
No doubt the future is coming, but these robots are going to need a lot more programming and fine-tuning before they replace anyone’s job.