Meet the New Robot at New York’s LaGuardia Airport

Robots can be used to do a myriad of tasks in homes and industries. From washing floors, to hospitality greeters, to sniffing contraband, robots can be configured to do just about anything.

This is especially true at New York’s LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B. The terminal was renovated in 2022 and received a 5-Star Rating from Skytrax, according to Investing.com. To maintain the standards at the terminal, the facility services provider ABM is working with LaGuardia Gateway Partners, the terminal’s operator to deploy robots that scrub floors, vacuum, and now a new headless robotic “dog” has joined the mix to check the air quality.

“Airports are among the most dynamic environments in the world, and Terminal B is the perfect stage to demonstrate how robotics, AI, and data integration can transform facility operations,” said Sean Bromfield, President of Aviation at ABM in a statement.

Meet the Robotic Dog
The robotic dog, which was developed by Skild.ai, conducts air quality inspections of the terminal. The bot deployed at the baggage claim to demonstrate to passengers how it works, reported Fast Company.

 The robot’s job is to sniff around, literally. The four-wheeled robot is loaded with air quality detectors that will help the airport team monitor the terminal for pollutants. With thousands of people passing through the terminal, the air can get stagnant and smelly.

But why do you need a rolling air monitor? ABM stressed that the air ducts are overhead and can’t capture what the passengers are experiencing.

The robot monitors organic compounds, contaminants from cleaning or paint, and nitrogen dioxide. The robot also monitors trash cans and can send an alert when one must be emptied.

Possible Drawbacks

The fact that the robot resembles a dog could make children and adults want to get close to it in order to pet or play with it. To overcome that, in addition to a don’t touch sign, the robot has a built-in safety factor. If someone gets too close, the robot will stop.

There is also a chance that someone might try to steal the robot. But the team said that the device is tracked in real time and with the amount of security at the terminal, the robot is very secure.

While all the robots are still part of a pilot program, ABM will be investigating how well they integrate into the airport’s operations. Then they will evaluate whether to keep the current robots, add more, and possibly deploy them at other airports. Robotic dogs may be coming to an airport near you.