Let's get acquainted with Persephone, a robot guide to accompany tourists to explore caves in Greece. He became the world's first robotic tour guide in a cave.
Persephone has been welcoming visitors since mid-July to the Alistrati Caves in northern Greece, 135 kilometers northeast of the city of Thessaloniki.
This multilingual robot guides the first 150 meters of the part of the cave that is open to the public. At the remaining 750 meters, a human guide took over.
The robot was named Persephone because, according to one version of the ancient Greek myth, it was on a nearby plain that Pluto — the god of the underworld also known as Hades — abducted Persephone, with the consent of her father Zeus, to take her as his wife.
The robot can provide tour guidance in 33 languages, interacting at a basic level with visitors in three languages. He can also answer 33 questions, but only in Greek.
Nikos Kartalis, scientific director for the Alistrati website, had the idea for a robot when he saw the robot on TV guiding visitors to an art gallery. However, 17 years can only be realized after they get the funds.
The robot was built by the National Technology and Research Foundation and cost 118,000 euros.
"We've seen a 70% increase in visitors compared to last year since we started using the robot," Kartalis said. "Enthusiastic people, especially children, and people who have visited in the past are coming back to see the robot guide. ."
Robots move along the paths, past ornate landscapes of stalactites and stalagmites. These varied formations can reach a height of 15 meters and are visible along the nearly 1 kilometer cave trail, which is accessible to people with limited mobility.
Persephone, with a white body, black head and two glowing eyes, moves on wheels, guiding visitors to three of the first eight stops along the trail.
“My name is Persephone, I am the daughter of the goddess Demeter and the wife of Pluto, the god of the underworld. I welcome you to my underground kingdom, Alistrati Cave.” that's what Persphone said when greeting visitors.
Persephone is not the only technology used in the cave. There is a mobile application where visitors, scanning the QR code, can view the Beroni Alistrati.