Japan Airlines (JAL) has begun testing humanoid robots at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to address the country’s labor shortage and the increasing number of tourists. The trial, which will begin in early May, is seen as an important step toward the permanent deployment of robots.
elchi reports that the Chinese-made robots, which will be used at Haneda Airport, serving more than 60 million passengers annually, were transporting passenger luggage and cargo on the runway.
The experiment, conducted by JAL and its partner GMO Internet Group, is planned to continue until 2028.
The main goal of the initiative is to reduce the physical burden on airport staff, who are struggling due to an aging population and a shrinking workforce.
In a demonstration for the media, a 130 cm tall robot manufactured by Hangzhou-based Unitree was seen successfully pushing cargo onto a conveyor belt.
Safety is still under human supervision
JAL Ground Services President Yoshiteru Suzuki stated that robots performing physically demanding tasks will provide significant benefits to employees.
However, Suzuki emphasized that critical decision-making tasks, such as safety management, will continue to be performed by humans.
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