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Humanoid discovered travelling on Emirates flight

by Robeel Haq on Feb 8, 2010

3 Comments

Travellers on a recent Emirates flight from Dubai to Riyadh were accompanied by a different type of passenger, after the Dubai-based airline was tasked with transporting one of the world’s most advanced humanoid robots.

A first for Emirates, the Arabic speaking humanoid named Ibn Sina, travelled as a First Class passenger on the flight accompanied by Dr Nikolaos Mavridis, assistant professor of computer science at the United Arab Emirates University College of Information Technology in Al Ain where Ibn Sina was developed, along with two of his assistants.

Able to verbally interact with people, Ibn Sina stunned fellow passengers as he was checked in at Emirates’ dedicated First Class check-in counters and relaxed in Emirates’ First Class lounge prior to boarding his flight.

The transportation of Ibn Sina required countless hours of planning and input from multiple Emirates Group departments to ensure the humanoid was cleared for travel by the Dubai Police Authorities, the Dubai International Airport and Emirates’ safety team.

“The planning and integration of numerous Emirates departments is testament to our commitment to give every passenger, human or not, the best level of care and service possible. Ibn Sina embodies the forward thinking and innovative ethos of Emirates and we were honoured to have him fly with us,” said Mohammed Mattar, divisional senior vice president of airport operations.

“This was certainly an interesting challenge for the team however through careful planning Ibn Sina was successfully transported to his destination and we look forward to many more trips of the same nature,” he added.

Ibn Sina safely made the trip to Riyadh where he was the key exhibit at a conference and exhibition on higher education.

FEATURED COMMENT

Well done to Prof Dr Nikalaos and his team for a fantastic achievement which all of UAE can be proud about. Previous pos

3 Comments

Readers' Comments

Aboel Rawal (Feb 18, 2010)
Mumbai

Humanoid Project - A Unique Cargo
Well done to Prof Dr Nikalaos and his team for a fantastic achievement which all of UAE can be proud about. Previous post about Japan is correct. I once sat beside a humanoid on a JAL flight from Tokio to Delhi and it refused to turn off its mobile phone and bluetooth circuits for take off and landing when asked by the cabin crew. Finally, it stood up and took its luggage from the rack before the plane had even stopped. From the report, Ibn Sina sounds like it is better designed to respect human passengers.

Saranghadharan Damodaran (Feb 10, 2010)
muscat
Oman

HUMANOID CARGO
Great News! Congratulations to the Creator (Dr Nicholaos) and to Emirates.

Philbert Suresh (Feb 10, 2010)
Toronto
Canada

Humanoid Project - A Unique Cargo
My hearty congratulations to Prof Dr Nikolaos Mavridis, assistant professor of computer science at the United Arab Emirates University College of Information Technology in Al Ain where Ibn Sina was developed, along with two of his assistants. This puts Abu Dhabi and Al Ain in the leading institutions that has done serious research in this field dominated by companies in Japan. A whole range of human feelings such as surprise, happiness. distress, anger etc is expressed by the robots. I have seen the display and demo of such computer devices during the Dubai Shopping Festival at Lal Supermarket and Mall.

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