RoBoHon (robot guide)

2018: Beginning of use

At the beginning of September, 2018 it became known that the miniature RoBoHon robots humanoids with elements of artificial intelligence released by Sharp company will accompany tourists on trips to the taxi across Kyoto, executing a role of guides.

According to the Kyodo agency, robots will be able to tell about city sights on Japanese, Chinese or English. The service of lease RoBoHon for tourists organized by Sharp company, the Kyoto operator the MK Co. taxi and JTB travel agency will be started on September 22.

As explained the companies, it was decided to create similar tourist service in connection with rise in demand for taxi services for sightseeing and against the background of the growing tourist flow to Japan. So far organizers are going to offer the corresponding service package to tourists until the end of March, 2019.

The trip to the taxi accompanied by the robot will begin from the railway station of Kyoto. The route will include visit of the Buddhist Kiyomidzu-dera temple complexes and Nandzen-dzi and also the temple Syogundzuk at top of the hill from which the panoramic view of Kyoto opens.

The RoBoHon robot guide from Sharp company

Asking the questions RoBoHon, passengers of the taxi will be able to learn from it about history and the culture of Kyoto. The robot interacts with people by means of artificial intelligence, allows to make voice calls by the mobile phone and to activate the video camera, however, within a tourist packet it will be impossible to use mobile communication of the robot and function of e-mail. But tourists are allowed to take with themselves RoBoHon when they leave inside of the taxi for sightseeing so the robot will be able to conduct a full-fledged tour.

As for payment, at RoBoHon lease by two or three tourists the cost of service will be 6 thousand yens (about $54). In case of use by one tourist the price increases up to 7 thousand yens (about $63) for a 6-hour Kyoto tour.^[1]

Notes