SEATTLE – On Tuesday, July 11th, passengers departing from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport might see a robot providing tips for getting through security just a little bit faster. Through audio instructions in English and on-screen animated instructions in six different languages, the robot will remind passengers to remove items such as scarves, light jackets and belts and empty their pockets before going through screening.
For the pilot program, Sea-Tac officials will track the number of times passengers trigger the body scanner alarm during and after the robot test. The robot is not designed to replace humans! The technology augments the work of human beings, allowing them to spend more time on critical security tasks.
The robot will also make a cameo appearance on Wednesday, July 12, when Sea-Tac Airport Aviation Director Lance Lyttle welcomes aviation and airport professionals to the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) Innovation Forum. The forum connects airport and aviation professionals with innovation and technology professionals to shape the future of airports.
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The robot pilot program is example of how Sea-Tac airport embraces technology, science and operational innovations. To improve customer service, Sea-Tac added indoor navigation technology to our free wi-fi splash page to show travelers their location in the terminal, Sea-Tac’s Business Intelligence Unit has helped operations and other front-line staff deploy new in-house mobile apps to track and prioritize maintenance and construction issues in real time, and has made our airport passenger and cargo data from 2016 more accessible through an interactive dashboard. Behind the scenes, Sea-Tac uses technology to keep our runways and airfield clear of foreign objects, improve communications with airlines, and was a pioneer in the use of avian radar to prevent bird strikes.
About Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Operated by the Port of Seattle, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA, KSEA) is ranked as the 9th busiest U.S. airport, serving nearly 45.7 million passengers and more than 366,000 metric tons of air cargo in 2016. With a regional economic impact of more than $16.3 billion in business revenue, Sea-Tac generates 171,796 jobs (109,924 direct jobs) representing over $2.8 billion in direct earnings and more than $565 million in state and local taxes. Twenty-four airlines serve 81 non-stop domestic and 24 international destinations.
