Niro Max: The Future of Airport Service

Baidu Ai Cloud Hci Lab's Innovative Service Robot

As the world's largest Chinese search engine company, Baidu has a reputation for pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence. Their latest creation, Niro Max, is a testament to their commitment to innovation. This service robot, designed for airport use, is a perfect blend of high technology and superior user experience. In the 5G era, service robots like Max can assist passengers accurately and flexibly, reducing labor costs and increasing operational efficiency.

Niro Max is not your average service robot. It can perform face recognition and natural language interaction, thanks to Baidu's AI technologies. The SLAM technology enables it to navigate freely and charge itself autonomously. It can assist passengers with check-in, ticket return, flight info, and other inquiries while patrolling airports. The robot's back box is equipped with an AED and first aid kit, allowing it to provide immediate assistance to passengers in need.

The design and production of Niro Max are as impressive as its capabilities. The shell is made from PC and ABS injection molding, with an internal skeleton realized with aluminum and sheet metal processes. The case is secured with buckles and screws, and multiple rounds of optimization have been done to achieve rapid disassembly. The robot integrates ultrasonic, infrared wave sensors, and SLAM technology, ensuring safe operation.

Despite its technical complexity, Niro Max is designed with user privacy in mind. The recessed screen helps protect user privacy, and the depth camera can calculate the user's distance to adjust speaker volume accordingly. Digital facial expressions increase the humanity of interacting with the robot, making it more approachable and friendly.

Niro Max's design is a result of extensive research and creative problem-solving. The design team conducted quantitative and qualitative user interviews and case studies to understand user preferences and interaction willingness. The final design, which includes arms and eyes for a more human-like feeling, has successfully enhanced users' willingness to interact with the robot.

The Niro Max project was launched in Beijing in January 2019 and officially released at the Baidu Yunzhi Summit in September 2019. It has since won the Golden A' Robotics, Automaton and Automation Design Award in 2020, a testament to its innovative design and potential impact on airport services.