Abstract

In an effort to create “a robot that coexists and cooperates with people and performs useful functions in society,” the concept of a “Compass to Accompany” was formulated during the development of a robot system to provide a guide service inside an airport facility as one public space in which individuals are coming and going. A questionnaire was administered to airport staff and to families of Honda employees, and a design was brought to fruition that entails identifying a potential request while listening to a live voice. Thorough consideration was given to enhancements to driving mechanisms and to the feasibility of various types of sensors associated with advancements in development; mockups and prototypes were obtained; and reception and guide robots were realized as easy to talk to, functional designs.Development efforts yielded an interface that guests can use without confusion and a feature capable of performing guided movement in the same manner as a human, even in an environment crowded with pedestrians, confirming the potential of offering a service consistent with this concept in an actual airport setting.

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Author (organization or company)

• Yoko SAITO（Life Creation Center）
• Takeshi KOSHIISHI（Design Center）

Publication Information

Article of Honda R&D Technical Review Vol.33 No.1 (1 - 9)

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Citation Information