ROBOT baggage handlers will replace humans during an experimental project as a major airline trials a humanoid crew.
The pilot programme was announced by Japan Airlines, where Chinese-made robots will be integrated into ground operations at Haneda Airport in Tokyo.
The country’s biggest airport will host the three-year experiment, where the machines will be tasked with cleaning planes, as well as loading and transporting baggage.
Looking further into the future, the androids could also be operating ground support equipment including baggage tractors, catering trucks and power units.
The airline said bipedal robots were the best suited to working in airport environments, as opposed to other types of robotic machines.
This is because they are quicker and are able to move within and adapt to cramped spaces.
“Being human-shaped allows their introduction without significant modifications to existing airport facilities or aircraft structures,” a Japan Airlines spokesperson said.
“By combining cutting-edge AI technology with the unique flexibility of humanoid forms, the project aims to realise a sustainable operational structure through labour savings and workload reduction.”
“Currently, the aviation industry faces a serious challenge in ground handling labour shortages,” they continued.
The airline said this was because of increased tourism and a declining working-age population in Japan.
“Ground handling operations require highly skilled personnel to maintain safety, such as aircraft marshalling and baggage/cargo handling, while also imposing significant physical burdens,” they said.
Baggage handlers do one of the least glamorous and thankless jobs in the modern world.
Many workers suffer with back injuries and are often faced with complaints about lost and damaged belongings.
The robots were trialled in Haneda this week, with a demonstration showing a skinny 51-inch robot tapping and pushing large storage containers on rollers.
To demonstrate that a task had been completed, the robots raise a hand.
The machine is made by Unitree Robotics of China and has 43 separate moving parts.
“While airports appear highly automated and standardised, their back-end operations still rely heavily on human labour and face serious labour shortages,” said Tomohiro Uchida of GMO AI & Robotics, the airline’s partner on the project.