Deployment Overview
On September 29, 2026, Kinetiq RRobotics, an Indian robotics engineering firm empowered by Star Engineers India Pvt. Ltd., introduced Nova, an AI‑driven robotic concierge, at Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) in Kochi, Kerala. The robot was installed in the Kalangan art museum, which is situated within the Domestic Security Hold Area of Terminal 1, and its passenger‑facing service was inaugurated by S. Suhas IAS, Managing Director of CIAL.
Functional Capabilities
Nova is designed to interact directly with travelers, allowing them to obtain real‑time flight schedules, gate details, and information about CIAL services. It also provides wayfinding assistance, directing passengers to airport facilities such as prayer rooms, washrooms, and medical centres. Beyond operational support, Nova acts as an interactive cultural guide, introducing visitors to Kerala’s traditional art forms—including Kathakali and Ottanthullal—explaining the artworks and sculptures displayed in the museum, and steering guests toward relevant exhibits.
Technology Stack and Partnerships
The physical robot serves as the user interface, while the digital intelligence and workflow orchestration are supplied by iWorkkz, a digital work‑management and automation platform. Kapil Patil, Co‑founder of iWorkkz, is responsible for the software intelligence layer that powers Nova’s decision‑making and information delivery. This integration ensures that Nova functions as an enterprise solution rather than a standalone kiosk.
Leadership Commentary
Jignesh Nair, South Region Head of Kinetiq RRobotics, coordinated the CIAL project and facilitated the robot’s deployment. Divya Ramraika, Managing Director of Kinetiq RRobotics, stated that the deployment reflects the company’s vision of bringing practical, intelligent robotics into everyday environments and highlighted the robot’s role in showcasing Kerala’s cultural heritage. Anil Sathe, Chief Growth Officer of Kinetiq RRobotics, emphasized that Nova combines passenger assistance, flight and airport information, wayfinding, and cultural discovery in a single interactive experience, positioning intelligent robots as an augmentation layer for human teams.
Strategic Significance
The deployment aligns with CIAL’s broader CIAL 2.0 transformation, which prioritises technology, automation, digital infrastructure, and passenger convenience. By offering an interactive alternative to static information kiosks, Nova enables passengers to access commonly requested information more engagingly while allowing airport staff to focus on complex, judgement‑based tasks. The press release notes that the successful live operation at CIAL demonstrates the growing potential for Indian robotics engineering and software intelligence to meet practical enterprise needs across sectors such as aviation, hospitality, healthcare, retail, corporate campuses, manufacturing, logistics, and facility management.
Future Outlook
With Nova now operating in a live airport setting, Kinetiq RRobotics views the project as a step toward broader adoption of passenger‑facing service robotics in high‑traffic environments, including autonomous delivery, cleaning, and customized robotic automation solutions.