Too heavy for luggage: Humanoid robot flies in its own seat – and causes delays

Passengers on a scheduled flight between Oakland and San Diego recently took off an hour late. There were problems with a passenger. But it wasn’t a bullying tourist who delayed the departure. The reason was a humanoid robot that was traveling on business.

Robot too heavy for luggage

As the local news site My Suncoast reported, a team from robot manufacturer Elite Event Robotics was traveling with a model called Bebop. The company, based in Dallas, Texas, rents out robots for events.

At first, the employees at Elite Event Robotics wanted to stow the robot, which weighs just over 30 kilograms, as a piece of luggage. But it was apparently too heavy for that. So they quickly booked their own seat for Bebop.

Lithium battery had to be removed

First, they place the robot, which is the size of a child, in an aisle seat. But that violated Southwest Airlines’ heavy-item transportation policy. A spokesman for the airline confirmed this to People magazine.

Bebop was then moved to a window seat. But Southwest employees had additional safety concerns. This time it was about the robot’s lithium battery. Her size exceeded the permitted size. The battery had to be removed. The airline sent it to Elite Event Robotics by post, as the robot company announced on Instagram when asked by a user.

“We worked closely with the flight crew to ensure everything was carried out safely,” Elite Event Robotics also wrote on Instagram.

Criticism of the action on social media

The company posted a picture of Bebop standing in front of the plane on the social network. “Delayed… but it was worth the wait,” wrote those responsible. And: “Bebop has finally made it on board, and it’s fair to say… he’s still the star attraction wherever he ends up.”

“How was it worth it? For who?” commented one Instagram user. Other users were similarly critical of the campaign. “Delaying a flight by more than an hour just to get some publicity is a nasty ploy,” one commenter insinuated.

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