Humanoid robots begin sorting luggage at Tokyo airport amid unemployment

Japanese companies have tested the G1 and Walker E robots from Chinese companies Unitree Robotics and UBTECH Robotics, according to The Asian Business Daily. Humanoid robots still cost tens of thousands of dollars per unit even as Chinese robot manufacturers ramp up production, although the Unitree G1 robot costs $13,500 for the first prototype.

New footage from a display screen at the airport shows one of the humanoid robots crawling up to a large metal container and pushing it incoherently. But the conveyor belt only starts moving when an employee starts the belt to carry the luggage to the plane.

Obviously, robots will need to put in more efficient work if they are to be as successful as airport workers. Having robots working alongside humans will also introduce new security measures at airports like Haneda Airport, which is Japan’s second largest airport. planes are arriving about every two minutes. The first step in the pilot program will involve identifying which areas of the airport would be the safest for humanoid robots.

Low-cost robotic assistance could be a welcome addition to Japan’s airports, which have struggled with labor shortages. In December 2023, Tokyo’s Narita Airport was unable to handle more than 30 percent of its weekly requests due to staff shortages related to baggage handlers and other ground staff, according to The Mainichi. Japanese government data showed that the number of domestic workers in Japan fell from 26,300 to 23,700 between March 2019 and September 2023.