NEW HIRES First for the cruise industry

Posted on 12/23/2015

Costa Cruises’ Costa Diadema and sister ship AIDAprima will have new members on staff next spring. Both will welcome life-sized personal robots to help out on board. While humanoids have been enjoying steady work in hotels and airports, this is a first for the cruise industry.

Pepper is a life sized personal robot created by Aldebaran (Softbank Group) and Hon Hai Precision Industry from Taiwan. According to the Aldebaran website, “Pepper is the first humanoid robot designed to live with humans. At the risk of disappointing you, he doesn't clean, doesn't cook and doesn't have super powers... Pepper is a social robot able to converse with you, recognize and react to your emotions, move and live autonomously.” Pepper’s job description includes welcoming guests on-board, making dining suggestions and referrals for events and excursions.

A spokesperson for Costa Cruises said: “It was no easy feat for Pepper to secure the job as he had to undertake an intensive internship programme on board AIDAstella and had to display his seaworthiness and ability to engage with customers and crew.” If you are wondering what makes Pepper tick? The answer is 40 innovative patents. He is solid, at 28 kg (61 lbs) and 120 cm (4 feet) tall. He is sensitive, capable of reading emotions and facial expressions. And with 17 anti-pinch articulations and 3 omnidirectional wheels, the guy can move; at least for 14 hours, after which he has to be re-charged. If the first two pioneers are a success, Costa hopes to pass the Pepper across the entire fleet by the summer.