Southwest Airlines has become the first airline to ban humanoid (and animaloid, for that matter) robots as passengers on its flights after a Dallas man bought a seat for ‘Stewie,’ instead of shipping it as cargo.
The issue, as far as Southwest is concerned, has less to do with Stewie’s form than with his lithium-ion battery, which is not permitted in checked baggage or in overhead compartments. Ultimately, after the robot attracted quite a bit of attention in the airport, Southwest put it in a window seat, a privilege it will never have again.
The owner, who runs a company that rents humanoid robots for events, says there shouldn’t be a problem because the robot’s battery is comparable to those powering laptops. The airline disagreed, but said that other robots and toys can still fly if they fit inside a carry-on bag and comply with existing battery regulations.
