Russian MAI Students Build a Polite Robot Waiter
The robot is designed to work on trains, in retail stores, and at large public events.
The project began as an applied task for high-speed rail lines. The operator needed a compact robot steward capable of working in the confined space of passenger cars. Off-the-shelf robots on the market did not meet the size or performance requirements, prompting the students to develop their own platform.
Interaction With People
The new robotic platform is designed for constant interaction with people. The robot can greet passengers or visitors, check tickets and documents, answer questions, or offer services. Going forward, the team plans to equip it with a multimedia screen featuring an AI chat, teach it to navigate indoor spaces fully autonomously, and enable it to carry small items.
Unlike many foreign counterparts, the developers prioritized compactness and modularity. The robot’s slim body allows it to operate in tight spaces, while interchangeable modules make it possible to quickly reconfigure the robot for specific tasks. More than half of the components are already sourced domestically, which lowers costs compared with imported models by relying on readily available parts.
Traditional Orientation
Special attention has been paid to navigation. Instead of expensive lidar systems, the robot orients itself using cameras. In the future, the team plans to implement a technology known as Semantic VSLAM. This navigation approach allows the robot not just to “see” obstacles, but to understand what surrounds it — doors, passageways, people, or furniture. The prototype has already undergone testing on the railway and received positive feedback from Russian Railways.
According to the university, the next stage will focus on refining the navigation system, updating the component base, and assembling a new prototype. It is expected to serve as the foundation for small-batch production and real-world deployment in the service sector.
