ロボットがあなたの宿泊中の部屋に

86％が産業用ロボットだが、サービス業のロボットが年率25−30％で急拡大しているとエコノミストの年初の動画で語っていますが、米国のホテルで実験的にロボットが導入されるようです。



Don’t be alarmed by that robot delivering a toothbrush to your hotel room
By Matt McFarland August 13

For now, only one robot will shuttle around the hotel’s hallways in a pilot program, but Brian McGuinness, global brand leader at Starwood’s Speciality Select Brands, expects multiple robots in the halls of all of Aloft’s locations by early 2016.

The robot, which Aloft is calling the Botlr, is capable of safely riding elevators and navigating winding hallways. Botlr uses a camera and sonar to map out the hotel so it isn’t smashing into walls or falling down unanticipated steps. An elevator was retrofitted to communicate wirelessly with Botlr. The elevator car alerts Botlr that it’s in the lobby and safe to board. Botlr then boards, and passes on what floor it wants to travel to. McGuinness says Botlr can be trusted to share an elevator with guests, and generally lets them exit first.

Because Botlr — made by Savioke — can’t knock on doors, it is programmed to call the room in question and play a recording that alerts guests that it’s standing outside.

日本語のブログ記事はこちらから。

最初The robot, which Aloft is calling the Botlr, is capable of safely riding elevators and navigating winding hallways.のBotlrという名称がピンとこなかったのですが、robot butlerを指していたのですね。。。ホテルのプレスリリースに書いてありました。

#MeetBotlr: Aloft Hotels Recruits Robot to Join Team in Cupertino
Published: Aug 12, 2014 12:37 p.m. ET
STAMFORD, Conn., Aug 12, 2014 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Aloft Hotels, the tech-forward, innovation hub for millennial-minded travelers, is thrilled to announce the appointment of A.L.O. as the hotel brand’s first Botlr (robotic butler). This charismatic cyber associate makes his debut at Aloft Cupertino today, making Aloft the first major hotel brand to hire a robot for both front and back of house duties.

In this role, A.L.O. the Botlr will be on call as a robotic operative where it will be assisting the Aloft talent in delivering amenities to guest rooms. Professionally “dressed” in a custom shrink-wrapped, vinyl collared uniform and nametag, A.L.O. will modestly accept tweets as tips as its wheels whizz from task to task. This newest Aloft associate will not only free up existing talent’s time, allowing them to create a more personalized experience for guests, but will enhance the hotel’s current tech-forward offerings.

まあbutlerと言えばこの映画ですね。

（オックスフォード）
butler
the main male servant in a large house




単にゲストの部屋にモノを届けるだけと思ってしまいますが、開発にはいろいろな苦労があったようです。



この会社のブログでも発表していました。

AUGUST 12, 2014
Your Robot Butler Has Arrived

All of us at Savioke are pleased to announce the unveiling of our new robot – SaviOne.

As of August 20, anyone who wants to see our robot in person can do so at the Aloft Hotel in Cupertino, California. The only catch is that you'll have to be a guest there and forget to pack your toothbrush or cell phone charger - because SaviOne is a service robot designed for the hospitality industry. Guests that request items from the front desk can have that item delivered by a robot.

Next week marks the beginning of Savioke's pilot program, and we are very excited to be partnering with Starwood Hotels and Resorts, the parent company of Aloft Hotels. You can read Starwood's own announcement here.

Savioke will expand its pilot program to include additional hotels early next year. Anyone wishing to sign up for our early adopter program can do so here: http://www.savioke.com/contact/.

hospitality industryという言葉もこのようにホテルの話題で登場すれば想像しやすいですね。

（ウィズダム）
the hospitality industry 接客産業 (ホテルやレストラン業)