Russia Launches Pilot Program of High‑Tech Library Robots in Sevastopol
Two R.Bot 100 Plus units have begun greeting patrons and recommending books at the L. N. Tolstoy Central City Library, showcasing how robotics and neuromorphic sensing could reshape public services.
In Sevastopol, Russia, local authorities have kicked off an experiment to integrate robotic assistants into the public library system. According to a Sevastopol government announcement cited by Komsomolskaya Pravda, two R.Bot 100 Plus models are now operating at the Central City Library named after L. N. Tolstoy, where they’ll guide visitors, answer inquiries, help users navigate the collection, and suggest reading materials.
Equipped with touchscreens and voice‑interaction systems, the robots follow preprogrammed routes through the stacks and lobby. Their core mission is to adapt these technologies to meet the diverse needs of different patron groups — whether children seeking picture books or researchers hunting archival materials.
One of the units, affectionately dubbed “Captain,” is already on duty while still undergoing fine‑tuning and machine‑learning calibration. Its counterpart, known as “Uncle Fyodor,” is in the final stages of installation.
In parallel, Russian scientists have unveiled robots capable of mimicking human senses. Leveraging neuromorphic architectures modeled on the human nervous system, these machines can assess object hardness, texture, and temperature in real time. Such sensory robotics promise to extend beyond libraries into rescue operations and medical applications — particularly advanced prosthetics that respond more naturally to their environments.
This pilot in Sevastopol illustrates how combining touchscreens, voice interfaces, and neuromorphic systems can elevate service quality, broaden access to information, and customize the library experience for patrons of all ages and abilities. If successful, the trial could pave the way for the deployment of similar robotic solutions throughout Russia — and eventually in libraries around the world.
