Chongqing - On July 28, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport unveiled smart technologies—service robots, AI-powered flight displays, and robotic baggage systems—enhancing efficiency and passenger experience. A spokesperson confirmed all systems began operation that day.

"Yufeifei", the robot in Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport. (Photo/Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport)

The airport launched its intelligent service robot "Yufeiei," designed to assist passengers with facial recognition-enabled navigation, flight information inquiries, and baggage transport. 

 "The robot is equipped with a high-definition screen and a built-in luggage compartment that can carry personal items weighing up to 8 kilograms, "said Zhou Can, engineering administrator at the Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport Expansion Command Center. "It frees passengers' hands and allows them to shop or move more comfortably within the airport."

Eight  "Yufeiei" robots have been deployed in the terminal, equipped with multimodal perception, Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) technology, and multilingual capabilities to enhance passenger convenience.

To further improve the passenger experience, 21 smart flight information display systems have also been installed in the check-in and waiting areas. Unlike traditional displays, these units use facial recognition to identify passengers and automatically present real-time, personalized flight data and gate navigation.

Zhou noted the integration between the smart displays and the "Yufeiei" robots. A "summon smart robot" button appears on the bottom right of each screen. Once tapped, a nearby robot will approach and begin assisting the passenger. The smart display system also offers additional services, including interactive inquiries, commercial navigation, airport service announcements, and terminal maps.

Behind the scenes, automation continues with the implementation of robotic baggage handling. In the outbound baggage sorting area, two robotic arms can be seen actively loading luggage into carts. "We are the first airport in the country to use robotic arms to sort passenger baggage," said Zhao Ying, project manager of Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport Expansion Command Center.

Each robotic arm is capable of identifying luggage using visual and tag-based recognition, then stacking the baggage securely and efficiently. With a processing speed of 180 pieces per hour, the robotic arms outperform manual operations, reducing the risk of damage through precise force control.

13 autonomous mobile robots have also been introduced to transport oversized or transfer baggage. According to Zhao, these robots can navigate independently, avoid obstacles, and complete delivery tasks quickly. Combined, they can handle up to 357 pieces of luggage per hour.