By Humanoid robots are being now developed in order to replace human workers in Abu Dhabi’s malls. Abu Dhabi intends to place these humanoid robots in exhibition centers and malls from next year on.
The robots are developed by PAL Robotics, a company that is based in Barcelona and that functions under the umbrella of Royal Group (that has its basis in Abu Dhabi). The final product is ready and it features a life-size robot of 1.65m height being named REEM. This has already been presented at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center.
PAL Robotics has planned to produce 12 robots per month and the company’s marketing manager, Jorien Gujis has stated that:
“At the moment REEM is prepared for use at exhibition centers and shopping malls. In the future we will focus as well on the healthcare sector, airports, museums and other public spaces”.
What REEM will actually do? Well, one of the things that REEM is created for is to help people or entertain them in locations like care centers, malls, airports, hospitals, or exhibition centers. It will be both a guide and an entertainer thanks to the autonomous navigation system it comes up with as well as to its face and voice recognition system.
REEM can also be used to carry small packages and to provide information related to the weather, airlines travel time displaying a map of the surrounding area as well. The humanoid robot will also have the ability to provide you with tele-assistance via video-conferencing.
The price of such a robot is quite high, that is €200,000 ($269,157). The idea and production of REEM has led to serious debate. Some people question its necessity and the high price that must be spent for a piece of this kind of robot. This question also relates to the fact that people will lose their job once the robots are introduced in these locations.
Check the video below to see how REEM works and looks like!
