Meet the robot that greets guests at five-star Abu Dhabi hotel

UAE tech company puts the Autodroid to work in concierge role

A robot concierge that hands out gifts and checks in guests has been put to work at a top hotel on Saadiyat Island to test how technology could take on day-to-day tasks.

The Type 1 Autodroid developed by Autogo, a division of the UAE-based tech company Kintsugi, has completed a successful month-long trial at the St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort. It is an early indicator of how humanoid machines could support people in their daily work, or completely take over some menial tasks.

Far removed from the type of service robots depicted in Hollywood films, the machine can respond to basic commands and offer information using built-in artificial intelligence. While its performance may have been far from spectacular, the trial was considered a success, with developers claiming humanoid machines will soon become part of everyday life.

“It is very important that any robot interactions were unscripted, allowing it to learn continuously,” said Jason Lee, director of innovation at Autogo.

“On its ability, we can see it has hands for different functionality, for picking up small items, to slowly improving to picking up bigger items and perhaps venturing into the manufacturing or healthcare industry.”

Autonomous solutions

Autogo aims to create intelligent, autonomous solutions – such as robotaxis and delivery systems – that enhance productivity and transform how we live, work and move. Autodroid stands 1.73 metres tall, weighs 85kg and operates on a 360-degree rotation with built-in Lidar (light detection and ranging) to navigate obstacles.

It takes two hours to fully charge the robot, which can then run for six hours. Its developers said giving the machine legs could be the next step, although human acceptance of a fully mobile robot with the ability to think on its feet may take some getting used to.

“It is very important to understand what we are trying to do, which is not to have AI robotics take over but look into having human machine collaboration,” said Mr Lee. “We will see big changes in the next six months to a year.

“Mass production of these robots is one of the challenges we are looking at and trying to see how we can bring down the costs. This will allow them to be used domestically in homes and public places.”

Companies such as Boston Dynamics and Tesla have their own robots in production, which use similar technology.

The Autodroid concierge assists a guest at the Saadiyat Island hotel, showing its AI capabilities. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Musk machine

Elon Musk unveiled the latest prototype of Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus Gen 3, claiming the machine will be able complete most household chores within the next two years. The machine has 22 degrees of freedom in its hands, and tactile sensors to improve precision and pressure.

Tesla said the machine has become a fully trained masseuse, opening up the potential for similar robots to be used in social care. The latest model can navigate tight spaces, climb stairs and is 60 per cent faster than previous versions.

It is an example of the rapid rise of robot development and an increasing interaction with humanity. Optimus Gen 3 could be offered to consumers as early as 2026, for about $30,000. Kintsugi did not reveal how much had been spent on developing its Autodroid, or how much it would cost if commercially available.

“At Kintsugi, we are working on several innovations across multiple industries including aerospace, automotive and of course robotics,” said Rashed Al Mohtadi, executive director of Autogo, the robotics division of Kintsugi. “At this stage we're focusing on mastering this particular model but are growing as we progress.”

Tesla's Optimus robot demonstrates its agility by balancing on one foot, showing potential for advanced mobility. Tesla

The household service robot industry is expected to develop significantly, due to increased demand for social care in the elderly population and integration of smart home technology.

Big business

The global market was worth $12.18 billion last year and is expected to reach $71.26 billion within a decade, research and consulting company Precedence Research says.

“Seeing how fast technology is moving in AI in all industries, it may seem concerning for certain job roles where it might be wiped out or taken over, but I don't think it's the case,” said Mr Al Mohtadi. “People should see it as adding huge value, as a tool to be utilised rather than something to be afraid of.

“This will contribute significantly to all areas that it's implemented in. Over the next five to 10 years we're going to see a significant increase in the humanoid and robotics industry in terms of them being implemented into our everyday lives.”

A second trial is being considered later this year. St Regis did not wish to comment when asked about the robot concierge.