{"id":11195,"date":"2022-01-14T08:56:07","date_gmt":"2022-01-14T13:56:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wasserstrom.com\/blog\/?p=11195"},"modified":"2025-02-06T11:05:32","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T16:05:32","slug":"5-waitstaff-robots-serving-up-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wasserstrom.com\/blog\/2022\/01\/14\/5-waitstaff-robots-serving-up-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Waitstaff Robots Serving Up the Future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Millions of investment dollars have been funneled into AI, automation, and robotics as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. This surge of technological advancement<\/a> continues to take place in the foodservice industry, both out of necessity and from a desire to create. Here are five robots that have lent a hand in the restaurant scene with their charming capabilities and circuit boards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maira <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Chitti In Town<\/a>
Hyderabad, India
Created by Vistan NextGen<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Maira,
Chitti In Town aims to serve the best cuisine with the best technology. Serving with the help of Maira (and two other robots!) is not only filled with fun but also the most hygienic way to dine out.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Which Voice Would You Like to Hear?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At Chitti In Town<\/a>, patrons get to meet and interact with Maira (Multi-Sensing Intelligent Robotic Assistant). According to her creators at India\u2019s own Vistan NextGen<\/a>, it is a \u201cspecialized technotainment interactive robot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maira not only warmly greets customers, acts as hostess, and waits tables, but it keeps people entertained and engaged. Depending on who the robot is speaking to, it alters their voice to match tone, age, and gender with its six-voice modulation abilities. For instance, if a child is intimated by Maira\u2019s five-foot stature, it will ease the interaction by assigning a child-like voice to the conversation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The staff love Maira for many reasons, top among them, creating space between in-house humans and their customers during the pandemic. And naturally, Maira brings in big traffic. Patrons find an interactive robot that will chat with you about endless amounts of subjects to be a huge draw and novel experience. Maira\u2019s ability to see, feel, and hear its surroundings<\/a> is perhaps a glimpse into the future of robotics and a step-up in social exchange with artificial intelligence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

BellaBot <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

La Buena D\u00e9jeuner<\/a>
Gatineau, Quebec
Created by Pudu Robotics<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"BellaBot,
BellaBot supports both Laser SLAM and Visual SLAM<\/a> positioning and 3D omnidirectional obstacle avoidance in order to adapt to more scenarios. Plus, it can “meow”!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here, Kitty, Kitty?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After the pandemic hit, owner Elie Maalouf lost half of his staff. His solution? Meet BellaBot, a cat-themed robot who is helping out La Buena in the most adorable of ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BellaBot, (recently renamed “Pixel” at La Buena D\u00e9jeuner<\/a>) is a premium delivery robot that guides patrons to their tables and brings them their orders. If the wide eyes, sweet smile, and feline ears weren\u2019t enough to convince any restaurant owner to buy one Right Away, Pudu took it a step farther by incorporating an innovative bionic design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To further its lively and cute appearance, BellaBot was programmed to react with joy when customers gently pat it on the head, much like a real cat. BellaBot is equipped with dozens of original text emoji-like expressions which everyone can relate to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, this robotic feline is more than unbearably cute. It is able to carry up to 12 hot, heavy platters from the kitchen in one go. While Maalouf notes that BellaBot will never replace a human<\/a>, it most definitely is helping his restaurant through a tough time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resturants Save Money By Reducing Food Waste \u00bb<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

OriHime <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

DAWN Avatar Robot Caf\u00e9<\/a>
Tokyo, Japan
Created by Ory Laboratory <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Orihime
Ora Laboratory seeks to construct a future where anyone who feels lonely can overcome their burden caused by disabilities and distances and actively participate in society.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How Can Bedridden Citizens Work in a Caf\u00e9?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since its inception, Ory Laboratory<\/a> has had a singular goal in mind: to eliminate \u201cloneliness\u201d from the human race. That is why they developed OriHime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the Avatar Robot Caf\u00e9<\/a>, people with medical and physical conditions that are ordinarily unable to leave their home can work in the caf\u00e9. By employing a team of OriHime robots, disabled staff, called Pilots<\/a>, remotely control their robot waiter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This state-of-the-art system allows remote staff members to see through the eyes of the OriHime, whose face was inspired by a traditional Noh mask<\/a>. In fact, workers can control OriHime from a smartphone or tablet to see, hear, talk, and express themselves for a true face-to-face exchange. Thanks to OriHime, there is a little less loneliness in the world and more opportunity for marginalized groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rosie <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Smoke Shop BBQ<\/a>
Cambridge, MA
Created by Bear Robotics<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n