Panasonic tests robotic service for transportation of passengers in Tokyo

On July 16, 2020 it became known that corporation Panasonic together with the passenger railway company JR East Group began testing robotic of the service allowing persons with limited opportunities freely to move in the urban environment. The platform for tests was the Tokyo station Takanawa Gateway which is positioned as "the station of the future" and from the most opening in 2020 constantly participates in demonstration of the most advanced technologies: robots, the automated shops with a payment system based on AI, tourniquets with QR-scanners and the systems of digital boards Railway Terrace Vision.

This time for testing selected two developments of Panasonic at once: autonomous robot- a communicator HOSPI Signage and self-moving electrochairs with the built-in sensors and function of tracking of the movement.

The HOSPI Signage robot was used first of all as the consultant - moving on the second floor of the station with a speed of 2.5 km/h, he informed passengers on train service, the current restrictions and security measures and also could show the way if necessary to a toilet or the elevator, communicating with interlocutors in the Japanese or English languages.

Besides, HOSPI acted as "leader" for group of the self-moving robochairs intended for transportation of handicapped people. Having come into contact with one or several devices, HOSPI conducted a column along the preset route. At the same time the group used the intelligent system of security allowing participants of the movement to slow down or to stop completely at emergence on the ways of the person or an obstacle and also function of autonomous tracking which guarantees that robots behind follow the leading robot.

Panasonic actively develops the direction of robotics to meet the growing demand for remote services in connection with COVID-19 pandemic and also to compensate the labor shortage caused by aging of the population in Japan. Expecting global distribution of approach "Mobility as service" (Mobility as a Service), the company also uses the robotic technologies for creation of essentially new services for the cities.