Strong-arm tactics: Left luggage goes robotic

New York – Yotel, a hotel in the Hell’s Kitchen area of Manhattan, has introduced the Yobot, a robotic arm that automatically stores guests’ bags.

Viewers can watch the automated concierge as it works behind glass, moving suitcases into one of 117 compartments. The hotel collaborated on the project with MFG Automation, a company that specialises in turnkey robotic systems for manufacturing.

‘We think form follows function, and we wanted to use industrial forms as art rather than paintings or sculptures – that has been done before,’ Gerard Greene, CEO of Yotel, told Frame. The Yobot complements the overall high-tech vibe of the hotel, which also features futuristic design and self-service kiosks for check-in and check-out.

The Yobot is a dramatic, offline example of how hotels are ramping up their technology in an effort to reach Millennials. It is also a scaled-up take on the high-end vending machine trend.

For more, read our microtrends on Millennial Hotels and Upmarket Vending.