If you’re “having a bit of trouble”, ask Spencer

30th November 2015

Joe Bush

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For those of a certain generation the name Spencer will conjure up images of clumsy incompetence. Whether it be roller skating underneath a London bus or clinging to a car door teetering on the edge of Beachy Head, Frank Spencer, the hapless hero of the 1970s sitcom ‘Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em’, caused chaos wherever he went – no matter how honourable his intentions.

However, a namesake of his could well prove to be a shining beacon of organisation at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands. A new automated robot has been created to assist travellers in finding their way around the notoriously confusing terminal system. Spencer, who is equipped with laser range finding eyes and detailed maps of the airport's interior, will commence a test run before the end of the year.

So problematic was the airport’s layout, that it was leading to many customers getting lost and missing their flights. As such, KLM Airlines actually contributed a significant percentage of the project’s funding. Technology incorporated into Spencer will allow the robot to recognise temporarily permanent objects, luggage trolleys for example, will sidestep passengers, and even have the ability to check on a group he’s leading to ensure no one gets lost or left behind. Spencer can also communicate in several languages.

Data from the trial will be used to make necessary adjustments in preparation his official debut in March 2016. Örebro University in Sweden were key contributors to the research project, and Professor of Computer Science and project leader, Achim Lilienthal, believes that Spencer could eventually be rolled-out in any applications where robots intend to interact with humans i.e. autonomous trucks and museums.