Centaur Robotics targets the hospitality industry with its self-balancing mobility device
Technology firm Centaur Robotics is looking to introduce the two-wheeled, self-balancing device it has created to the hospitality industry to help it maximise returns from the purple pound.
The vehicle fits into the space of a dining chair, spins in its own footprint and raises the user to eye-level.
The company hopes the Centaur will feature regularly in hotels, offering improved mobility for guests. It could also offer a solution for older guests who have difficulty getting around, allow users to order at the bar and access all parts of a hotel where a lift is fitted.
Last year, Centaur Robotics won the Microsoft Award for Inclusive Guest Innovation for the Centaur at the 2022 Blue Badge Access Awards.The futuristic, sleek design aims to combat the stigma which often accompanies mobility devices.
Judge Michael Vermeersch, digital inclusion lead at Microsoft UK, described the Centaur as a “solution that gives back independence”.
“It touches a problem area that is indeed in need of innovation,” said Mr Vermeersch. “We can see the Centaur being used to transport people to their hotel rooms or for excursions during their stay.”
Eric Kihlstrom, chairman of Centaur Robotics, said: “The Centaur will make a huge difference to people’s lives and allow those with limited mobility to fully enjoy the hotel and restaurant experience and stand out for the right reasons.”
The Blue Badge Access Awards have launched to reward exceptional accessibility and inclusivity shown by venues in the hospitality, leisure, and tourism industries in 2023.
