East Japan Railway Co. on Wednesday showed the media a test trial of two artificial intelligence robots designed to guide passengers at Tokyo Station. The robots -- Pepper of SoftBank Robotics Corp. and SEMMI of German railway company Deutsche Bahn AG -- were deployed at an information desk in a shopping and dining center called Gransta on the basement floor of the station. Visitors can ask for directions to stores and restaurants in the facility in languages including Japanese, English and Chinese, JR East said. The trial, which began Monday and will last through May 31, comes as part of a technological exchange between JR East and Deutsche Bahn that began in 1992. They will look at the machines' capabilities and visitors' reactions to their appearance.

A robot developed to serve as a security guard at train stations was shown to the press Thursday amid a growing need to boost safety in the run-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. Equipped with a security camera powered by artificial intelligence, the robot can detect and report suspicious persons or objects at stations and is expected to help lower burdens on staff. It is named "Perseusbot" after Greek mythological hero Perseus and is 167.5 centimeters tall, 61 cm wide and 90.5 cm long. The robot will be tested at Seibu Shinjuku Station in Tokyo between Nov. 26 and 30. The robot can avoid obstacles and travel over uneven pavement during patrols. It can send alerts to the smartphones of security staff if it discovers objects left unattended for a long time or if it captures aggressive movements by individuals that could lead to conflict.

Bebot is your AI guide based in Tokyo Station. Tokyo Station, the train hub of Japan's capital and home to the world famous Shinkanshen bullet trains, is one of the busiest railway station in the country and many tourists may need help to navigate it. Now they may not fear being lost in transit as Bebot, the AI chatbot concierge, has started working there as a'guide'. Bebot, built by Tokyo-based Bespoke Inc., acts as a personal concierge for travellers. It was launched in April last year, and is already providing services in Narita and Haneda international airports and hotels globally.

East Japan Railway Co., on Monday started a pilot project under which a humanoid robot serves visitors in English, Chinese and Japanese. Placed in front of the travel service center at the Marunouchi north exit, the 90-cm, 15-kg Emiew3 can respond questions on directions on trains leaving and arriving at the station as well as shops and restaurants within the station. It can also provide information on tourist attractions around the station. The robot, developed by Hitachi, Ltd., will be in service on weekdays through Oct. 28, for JR East to test its ability to comprehend questions and whether it can recognize people's voices in a crowded, noisy environment. Emiew3, which can also show maps through a screen on its back, is also being tested at Haneda airport.