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.
A humanoid robot named Olly is navigating commuters at the Little India MRT station in Singapore as part of a two-week trial by the Land Transport Authority (LTA). Standing 1.27 meters tall in a high-visibility vest, Olly is being tested on weekdays from 10am to 12pm from Monday, August 31st to September 11th. The robot answers passengers' queries and guides them to the right exits.
During a trial, the robot successfully answered simple service-related questions, such as arrival times for trains. However, it struggled with more complex questions, sometimes misinterpreting directions or giving wrong information. A visitor from the United States, who had a background in robotics, expressed admiration for Olly's ability to balance and walk without wobbliness.
The robot is developed by Chinese robotics firm Unitree Robotics and is supervised by LTA staff throughout the trial to ensure it remains in good working order. The LTA hopes to explore how AI-enabled technologies can improve public transport operations and the commuting experience.
Written by urgent.news from CNA - Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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