Robot guide Olly stumbles on some directions, gets others right in first MRT trial
Standing 1.27m tall in a high-visibility vest, the robot is being tested at Little India station this week, with CNA finding results ranging from smooth exit directions to a mixed-up destination.
At 1.27 meters tall and wearing a high-visibility vest, humanoid robot Olly is being trialed at the Little India MRT station as part of a two-week experiment by the Land Transport Authority. Described as their newest team member, Olly can answer passengers' queries and guide them to the correct exits. The trial is set to run from Monday, August 31, to September 11, on weekdays from 10 am to 12 pm.
During a recent interaction with Olly, commuters displayed curiosity, with some bringing their children over to get a closer look. I initiated the conversation by saying "Hi Olly", activating the voice assistant. Speaking to the small robot required clear, loud speech, and the robot took several seconds to process my words before responding with a male voice.
Olly successfully answered simple service-related questions, such as the arrival times of the first and last trains. However, when asked for directions to Tekka Centre, the robot took time to process the request. After multiple prompts, it provided verbal directions but was unable to physically guide me to the nearest exit. On a second attempt, Olly misheard "Tekka Centre" as "Teacher's Centre" and provided directions to that location instead.
Asking for directions to KK Women's and Children's Hospital yielded better results. Olly responded, "Hi, please proceed to exit F and follow the signs to KK Hospital," before turning to face the exit. When I confirmed, Olly walked slowly to the fare gates near exit F, turning to face the direction after reaching the fare gate. A small crowd gathered, curious about the station's new addition.
Olly is developed by Chinese robotics firm Unitree Robotics and will be supervised by LTA staff throughout the trial to ensure its proper functioning. LTA mentioned that the trial aims to explore how AI-enabled technologies can support public transport operations and improve commuters' experiences. The robot is being trialed during off-peak hours to assess its performance in a live station and gauge public reaction.
Little India station was chosen due to its proximity to LTA headquarters. Commuters, particularly children, expressed interest in the new addition, taking photos and videos of Olly.
Written by urgent.news from Channel News Asia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
