Tropes

robohub 00099.txt

#Hotel delivery robot debuts in Silicon valley Savioke a start-up headed by ex-Willow Garage CEO Steve Cousins has provided Aloft hotels with a roboticâ butler. Aloft Cupertino is the first to use the new Savione delivery robot. Aloft hotels are a boutique brand of Starwood hotels that focusâ on techie features such as Apple TV in-roomâ services and the needs of the#always on#generation of traveler. The first Savione robot named A l. O. Botlr by the Aloftâ Hotels team and dressed in a vinyl collared uniform with a name tag started today and several more Saviones will added beâ in coming months. The A l. O.#Botlr#robot prioritizes multiple guest deliveriesâ communicates with guests and various hotel platforms as well asâ efficiently navigating throughout the property#including the elevator#with speedsâ up to 4 mph. It will be used to deliver amenities chargers cords snacks and the morning paper. Just before the robot reaches its destination the system calls the room to alert the guest to open the door and get their delivery. Steve Cousins CEO of Savioke said:##In our early testing all of us at Savioke have seen the look of delight on those guests whoâ receive a room delivery from a robot. We#ve also seen the front desk get busy at times and expect Botlr our Savione robot will beâ especially helpful at those times freeing up human talent to interact with guests on a personal level.##The NY Times questioned whether this new robot was a gimmick or a sign of things to come.##I see this as an enhancement to our customer service#said Brian Mcguinnessâ Starwood hotels#senior viceâ president for its Specialty Select brands which include the 100 Aloft hotels expected to be opened in 14 countries byâ next year.##It#s not going to be a replacement for our human talent.##The Times article went on to say that Savioke wasâ interested in a range of service industry applications like assisted living facilities and hotels. Savioke is both the designer and builder of the ROS-based Savione robot. Although not one of the Willow Garage spin-off companies many ex-Willow Garage employees now work at Savioke m

< Back - Next >