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New Swiss Robot Assists Travelers with Luggage (securitymagazine.com)

A Swiss airport is testing a robot named Leo which can carry a passenger's luggage once they're approaching the terminal. Leo's baggage compartment opens when passengers press his 'Scan & Fly' touch interface, which can also print luggage tags and display a departure time and boarding gate, before delivering their luggage to a baggage handler. The airport's head of IT said the new robot "limits the number of bags in the airport terminal, helping us accommodate a growing number of passengers without compromising the airport experience inside the terminal." And the robot's developer says it proves that robotics "hold the key to more effective, secure and smarter baggage handling and is major step towards further automating bag handling in airports."

22 of 40 comments (clear)

  1. Umm ,,, by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

    Now you don't even have to carry your bomb ^H^H^H^H^H luggage to the terminal Slip it in Leo and walk away.

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    1. Re:Umm ,,, by AchilleTalon · · Score: 1

      The robot is not configured in a way to enable X-ray scanning of the luggages. Metal detection is useless, these luggages are going into the cargo space and carrying metal in such luggages is not forbidden. You cannot carry a gun, a knife through the passengers' security area. That's not what these robots are intend to.

      Performing facial recognition and identification is a plus at my opinion, it just accelerate the processing no need anymore to go to a counter of the airline company.

      --
      Achille Talon
      Hop!
    2. Re:Umm ,,, by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

      Setting a bomb off in an area where people are, even if it's "just" the scanning area, is very effective. It means you can't predict where the next attack will be because there's no "this is a target but that isn't" any more.

      The goal is fear and disruption. Any deaths are seen as just a bonus to them.

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    3. Re:Umm ,,, by Kjella · · Score: 1

      Setting a bomb off in an area where people are, even if it's "just" the scanning area, is very effective. It means you can't predict where the next attack will be because there's no "this is a target but that isn't" any more. The goal is fear and disruption. Any deaths are seen as just a bonus to them.

      If you just want to find a crowd, why would you need to go to an airport? You can find those at hundreds of different places. The point is to create a massive overreaction, but then the threat has to be narrow enough that it's feasible like say flying or taking the subway. If they hit a mall, it's just not realistically possible to create a "Mall Security Agency" based on the TSA with security checkpoints. People won't stop going to malls and if they start rationalizing it like there's 300 dead in a population of 300 million, that's "struck by lightning" odds then the terror effect doesn't take hold.

      --
      Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
    4. Re:Umm ,,, by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 1

      Well, you could reconfigure the robot...

      Passengers' checked-bags are X-rayed and scanned for anything "suspicious." This is why you can no longer lock your bags. The TSA has left an occasional note in my bag saying that they opened it to check out something.

      It's an interesting idea to have the helpful robot meet you at curbside to take your bags, scan them, and perhaps deliver them to the appropriate place (e.g., "safe", "suspicious").

    5. Re:Umm ,,, by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      Last time I got one of those notes, they stole my flashlight...

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
  2. Thank God! by Opportunist · · Score: 3, Funny

    Perish the thought that we could not have the full "airport experience". I'm so glad that carrying my bags doesn't distract me anymore from being fondled and molested and standing in queue for 3+ hours, an "experience" like no others.

    I'm SO grateful that someone finally took care of the REAL problems we have at airports!

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    1. Re:Thank God! by no-body · · Score: 1

      Perish the thought that we could not have the full "airport experience". I'm so glad that carrying my bags doesn't distract me anymore from being fondled and molested and standing in queue for 3+ hours, an "experience" like no others.

      I'm SO grateful that someone finally took care of the REAL problems we have at airports!

      Needs more work...

      If you watched the video: https://www.sita.aero/innovati...
      and imagine hundreds or thousands of those boxes "avoiding" = standing still when people are in front, how those boxes are progressing in an airport?environment.

      Security is definitely an issue - never leave your suitcase alone out of your control - hack this robot and fill it up....

      Avoiding lines is tempting, probably there will be a price tag on this service, yet another human class distinction...

    2. Re: Thank God! by comrade1 · · Score: 1

      This is a Swiss airport, not in the u.s. The only place you get molested is the USA. Someone at this airport has a thing for robots. A few years ago there was another robot that would answer people's public transportation questions in the luggage pick-up area.

  3. Compromising the airport experience??? by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 1

    The airport's head of IT said the new robot "limits the number of bags in the airport terminal, helping us accommodate a growing number of passengers without compromising the airport experience inside the terminal

    What the fuck is there to compromise in the airport experience?

    Let's summarize shall we:

    - Arrive at the airport. Park at the super-uber-overpriced airport parking lot - or pay the super-uber-overpriced cab driver.

    - Enter the terminal. From here on, you can't smoke or vape - so sneak a quick one before entering.

    - Find your friggin' check-in desk. Despite arriving 3h early, there's a million tourists with too many luggages and no mastery of english whatsoever already waiting in line.

    - It's your turn: lift the fucking luggage onto the scale - pay an extra $100 because it's 2 grams overweight.

    - Get entered into the airline database. Get issued a stupid e-ticket printed on 40g thermal toilet paper. Pray you don't lose it.

    - Rush to the security area. There, the million tourists who were waiting in line to check in are now waiting in line to get groped by TSA perverts, like cattle at the slaughterhouse.

    - It's finally your turn. You almost want to be groped at this point, to be done with it and go get a coffee.

    - Find a coffee shop. Pay $15 for something black and watery the shop calls coffee.

    - Find your gate. Sit at your gate with the million tourists who think it's the holiday of a lifetime.

    - Realize the gate has changed, you didn't notice and your flight departs in 3 minutes 50 gates away.

    - Rush like a madman. Find the gate closed. Miss your flight.

    What is there to redeem in the airport experience? Really? The only people who have a nice airport experience are those who fly private jets, because they don't go through the fucking airport in the first place.

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
    1. Re:Compromising the airport experience??? by AchilleTalon · · Score: 1

      Maybe you should have read TFA. Just a though.

      --
      Achille Talon
      Hop!
    2. Re:Compromising the airport experience??? by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 1

      This robot allows you to skip waiting in line to check in your luggage. So if you have a pre-printed boarding pass, you can go straight to your gate, saving time and skipping many of the inconveniences on your list. So what are you complaining about?

    3. Re:Compromising the airport experience??? by Incadenza · · Score: 1

      What the fuck is there to compromise in the airport experience?

      Let's summarize shall we:

      - Arrive at the airport. Park at the super-uber-overpriced airport parking lot - or pay the super-uber-overpriced cab driver.

      It's Switzerland. Super-uber-overpriced is the norm in the entire country.

      - Enter the terminal. From here on, you can't smoke or vape - so sneak a quick one before entering.

      GVA has smoking lounges for the terminally addicted behind security. Before security you can just slip out the terminal for 5 minutes.

      - Find your friggin' check-in desk. Despite arriving 3h early, there's a million tourists with too many luggages and no mastery of english whatsoever already waiting in line.

      That may be a bit of a problem, especially in the winter season. But at least then it's Brits that congest the place, and they do speak English!

      - It's your turn: lift the fucking luggage onto the scale - pay an extra $100 because it's 2 grams overweight.

      Only when you are flying Swiss

      - Get entered into the airline database. Get issued a stupid e-ticket printed on 40g thermal toilet paper. Pray you don't lose it.

      Evere heard of e-ticketing, on your phone? If you insist un getting a printed boarding pass, you might as well travel by horse and carriage.

      - Rush to the security area. There, the million tourists who were waiting in line to check in are now waiting in line to get groped by TSA perverts, like cattle at the slaughterhouse.

      - It's finally your turn. You almost want to be groped at this point, to be done with it and go get a coffee.

      Really, GVA has one of the best security checks that I know off. Speedy (15 min. queue max.) and friendly, but there could be a bit more place to re-pack your things.

      - Find a coffee shop. Pay $15 for something black and watery the shop calls coffee.

      It's no the US. This would be European coffee, which is actually stronger than tea.

      - Find your gate. Sit at your gate with the million tourists who think it's the holiday of a lifetime.

      - Realize the gate has changed, you didn't notice and your flight departs in 3 minutes 50 gates away.

      How many gates do you think GVA has?

      - Rush like a madman. Find the gate closed. Miss your flight.

      What is there to redeem in the airport experience? Really? The only people who have a nice airport experience are those who fly private jets, because they don't go through the fucking airport in the first place.

      That's another plus of GVA: the private jets! Lots of small business thingies, plus the occasional 747. Because when you want to check your bank account, you want to do so in style.

  4. Minimal benefit when located on the sidewalk by Josiah+C. · · Score: 1

    You can already do exactly the same thing by walking 50 meters farther. You scan your boarding pass; it prints your luggage tags and a receipt; you attach them and put your luggage on the conveyor belt. So all the robot really does is to save you 50 meters of schlepping your luggage. Of course, you do not have to wait on line for the robot, as it is experimental and people do not line up to use it. But if the robot were to become popular, then you would have to wait to use one, just as you have to wait to use the self-service luggage registering. The minimal added value of the robot would be greater if it could take your luggage while you are in the bus or on the train ON THE WAY TO THE AIRPORT! I note that the trains already cooperate for baggage checking in advance, so this should not be an issue with them. What about the bus or tram? Can the TPG also cooperate with the airport?

  5. Switzerland rejected UBI 78% against by roman_mir · · Score: 1

    Cue the /. comments how this development requires UBI to 'take care' of the poor language handlers in Geneva. Of-course Switzerland just voted down an attempt at UBI in a democratic referendum, 78% against the UBI.

    I discuss why UBI is the wrong idea in a few posts and there is an obvious backlash from the usual suspects here.

    1. Re:Switzerland rejected UBI 78% against by Incadenza · · Score: 1

      Cue the /. comments how this development requires UBI to 'take care' of the poor language handlers in Geneva. Of-course Switzerland just voted down an attempt at UBI in a democratic referendum, 78% against the UBI.

      I discuss why UBI is the wrong idea in a few posts and there is an obvious backlash from the usual suspects here.

      The baggage handlers would probably be living in France anyway.

  6. Re:Tipping the robot by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

    Will Leo expect a $10 tip for carrying my bags?

    Yes, and it has to be in Bitcoin.

  7. Re:Tipping the robot by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 1

    Will Leo expect a $10 tip for carrying my bags?

    No, Leo will demand a $50 fee for handling your bag.

    That is all what airlines are about these days . . . charging extra, for stuff that used to be included for free.

    Heard during to safety talk, on a cheapo airline:

    "If you have booked your flight with our extra security package, you will find a seat belt in your seat. Otherwise, if you wish to now have a seat belt during the flight, please contact one of our flight attendants, who can provide you with one for a token fee of $100."

    "In the event that the cabin loses pressure, an oxygen mask will fall down from above. Provided, that you have paid the oxygen fee."

    "When the plane crashes and falls down, burn downs and sinks into the swamp . . . please proceed to the nearest security exit. Note that passengers who have paid the extra escape fee will have preference when exiting the plane."

    "Enjoy your flight!"

    --
    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  8. Swiss Army Robot? by jandersen · · Score: 1

    It runs on clockwork, of course, and comes with hundreds of little, useful tools, such as knife blades, saws etc, all made to the highest standards.

  9. The Luggage by Errol+backfiring · · Score: 1

    Too bad Sir Terry Pratchett is no longer with us to see The Luggage for real. It's already somewhat sapient, but does it come with a pearwood finish?

    --
    Nae king! Nae laird! Nae yurrupiean pressedent! We willna be fooled again!
  10. Re:Tipping the robot by Big+Hairy+Ian · · Score: 1

    Will Leo expect a $10 tip for carrying my bags?

    No but I bet if you put a bomb in side him he'll goes to pieces so fast people get hit by the shrapnel! (Yes I know I'm paraphrasing Douglas Adams)

    --

    Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.

  11. "Too Many Luggages" by RobotRunAmok · · Score: 1
    >>too many luggages and no mastery of english whatsoever already waiting in line.

    Thank you for that.