Christchurch Airport’s exciting collaboration with Pepper!

Christchurch International Airport Limited has shown how Pepper can be used in different environments, in this case, Airports! Pepper and Nao, our favourite friendly humanoid robots, have been living and learning in the airport’s ‘Digital Innovation Zone’ since 2019. Pepper can be seen with travellers heading off or returning from holidays, having fun interactions and taking selfies.?

The Digital and Innovation Team at Christchurch Airport have especially enjoyed working with Pepper and is dedicated to exploring the potential of what can be achieved with the AI and robotics technology enabled through Pepper. They have delivered several creative and innovative solutions that have added great value to their business. The Digital and Innovation Team have collaborated with the Director of ST SOLUTIONS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD , Takero Izuhara , whose knowledge and experience have been very helpful. The team looks forward to discovering more about Pepper’s capabilities and the opportunities they will present to benefit Christchurch Airport and its travellers.

As a result of the Digital and Innovation Team’s activities, Pepper has been developed to enhance the airport’s customer experience and direct travellers through the airport’s security process. The trials show that Pepper can be a great source of entertainment for travellers, while also being a versatile asset to departments.?

Being open to various collaborative experiences has allowed Christchurch Airport to gain valuable insight into the interactive relationship between humanoid robots, such as Pepper, and the public. With the vision of enhancing customer experiences in their airports, their collaboration with the University of Canterbury has positively developed Pepper’s interactive capabilities. Pepper's ability to provide travellers with clear directions allows for the creation of a calming and warm atmosphere within the security department. The discovery that the use of Pepper in the security department is highly effective for the experience of both travellers and staff within this section of the airport reveals that Pepper can provide novel solutions and contribute to multiple domains of work.?

Christchurch Airport’s collaboration with Harewood School also helped realise the endless innovative potential of Pepper. Christchurch Airport welcomed the chance to hear recommendations regarding Pepper’s performance and level of engagement given by the students of Harewood School. The airport’s engagement with these young students allows new robotic possibilities to be discovered and fosters a space that allows the next generation of innovators to interact positively with humanoid robots such as Pepper. With the team at Christchurch Airport actively listening to the children’s ideas, this school programme helped to identify entertaining ways to improve the use of Pepper for various travellers and passengers in airports. This collaboration also planted the seed of innovation and interest in the potential of robotics within the developing minds of young students.

Christchurch Airport’s employment of Pepper within its terminals provides highly engaging entertainment and novelty for travellers. Pepper delivers an interactive experience that can unlock many ways to assist staff within many sectors of the workforce and inspire the next generation to create innovative developments within the technology sector now and into the future.

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