(24 May 2016) LEAD IN:
Smart, talkative and emotion-reading droids are wowing visitors to one of Europe's leading robotics events, Innorobo.
Developers say recent innovations make robots well-placed to enter various industries including sales, human care and even travel assistance.
But some aren't convinced.
STORY-LINE:
Pepper is giving visitors a special welcome to Innorobo in Paris.
The talkative white droid - developed by SoftBank Robotics Europe (formerly Aldebaran) - is one of several innovations being presented during the three-day event.
SoftBank Robotics Europe is exhibiting a broad range of potential Pepper applications with the help of various business partners, including payment company MasterCard.
Launched in June 2014, Pepper is touted as the first humanoid robot in the world capable of recognising main human emotions.
It does so by using the latest advancements in voice and emotion recognition technology from Emotion Robotics. That makes it well-placed to assist in a whole range of industries, according to Julien Seret, Vice President of Enterprise at SoftBank Robotics Europe.
"It's kind of a historical first," he says.
"The first time we gather a complete eco-system of partners around robots. And when I say partner, it's digital agencies, it's consulting companies, it's of course developers, designers, graphical experts, industry specialists, all these people are here to turn Pepper into a business solution."
One potential application is Emotion Robotics' software which allows people to search for houses using Pepper.
The robot asks a series of questions, such as number of bedrooms and potential budget, then offers a collection of options based on its findings.
But Pepper's not the only one busily conversing with visitors to Europe's premier robotics event.
Organisers say around 200 exhibitors from over 19 different countries are presenting their latest advancements in robotic innovation.
Experts from the city of Perm in Russia are exhibiting this distinct salesman, called Promo Bot. It's a robot designed to attract customers and help existing ones.
Developed as an alternative to promotional stands or admin counters, Promo Bot is able to identify the speech and appearance of certain clients, meaning it can recognise previous customers and befriend new ones.
It's also able to listen to feedback and complaints, then upload verbal responses to a database. But that's not the only potential use according to Promo Bot company director, Valentin Chulkov.
"One of the original ideas behind the machine was to get it to promote products in shopping centres, but then after we started talking to other organisations, we have learned that it can be used for other purposes as well," he says.
"For instance, one of the biggest success stories we have had was the hiring of the robot by Moscow Technological Institute as a lecturer, so it's reading lectures to people."
France-based Cybedroid is exhibiting this talkative personal assistant robot, called "Leenby".
Equipped with a wheeled platform, it's intended to safely move around medical environments, even climbing slopes.
Developers envisage the robot assisting in medical settings, giving help to care-givers and also as companionship to patients.
"It's designed to help people interact and it localises people - interacts with them," explains Cybedroid mechatronics engineer, Lou Josselin.
Need help finding your departure gate or perhaps where to collect your luggage? French robotic company Evotion is exhibiting this concept droid, developed with the help of Paris Aeroport.
Innorobo runs 24-26 May in Paris, France.
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