Robot helps lost shoppers

Posted by Mark Frauenfelder, January 25, 2008 10:28 AM | permalink

Next time you're all lost in the supermarket, you can count on Robovie to help you find your way.

In a series of demonstrations conducted from January 22 to 24, a souped-up version of ATR’s Robovie humanoid robot monitored people as they passed through a 100 square meter (1,076 sq ft) section of the Universal Citywalk Osaka shopping center. Relying on data from 16 cameras, 6 laser range finders and 9 RFID tag readers installed in and around the area, the robot was able to watch up to 20 people at a time, pinpoint their locations to within a few centimeters, and classify each individual’s behavior into one of 10 categories (waiting, wandering, walking fast, running, etc.).
Whenever Robovie spotted people who looked disoriented, the child-sized droid wheeled up to them and asked, “Are you lost?” If so, the robot provided simple directions to the destination and pointed the way. If not, the robot proceeded to recommend nearby shops and restaurants.

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Discussion

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#1 posted by claud9999 , January 25, 2008 11:05 AM

What'd be the legality of loading one of these into a mall department store or casino without their consent? I have heard that casinos intentionally organize the layout of their buildings so that leaving them is difficult, and I highly suspect dept stores of doing same...Would be a hoot to screw with their plans, but I'm guessing trespassing laws would mean your expensive bot would be impounded.

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#2 posted by ecobore , January 25, 2008 11:20 AM

"Are you lost?" "Please step into this soylent green processing chamber"

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#3 posted by twig , January 25, 2008 11:25 AM

Please let it speak in the voice of the GlaDOS curiousity module. Pleeease.

"Are you lost? Who are you? What is that? What is that? What is that? Are you coming back?"

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#4 posted by Stefan Jones

, January 25, 2008 12:30 PM

I bet it talks in an annoying, high pitched, juvenile anime-character voice.

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#5 posted by Takuan , January 25, 2008 12:33 PM

does it have a taser?

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#6 posted by License Farm

, January 25, 2008 1:05 PM

As a child I was apeshit for robots, but I think if one approached me while I was lost I might've freaked out, not out of direct fear but disorientation on top of disorientation. Maybe what was fantasy for me would be simply comforting and cool for kids today.

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#7 posted by fnc , January 25, 2008 4:34 PM

"I can help you find Sarah Connor."

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#8 posted by Beanolini , January 26, 2008 11:31 AM

now with Guaranteed Personality.

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#9 posted by Georgia Tills , January 26, 2008 3:49 PM

I know that thing would scare me if I was shorter than it.

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#10 posted by cha0tic

, January 26, 2008 10:21 PM

I'm wondering if one of the categories of classification was "Lurking"?
This suggests that the machine monitoring of a CCTV feed for apparently suspicious behaviour is now easily possible.

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#11 posted by Georgia Tills , January 27, 2008 10:51 AM

re: Chaotic

I'll be happy if it has a classification for "Stalking", or, man about to creep up on my mother while she's preoccupied with trying out shoes.

I'm so glad that some malls have female only rooms for us to sit down now.