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Tokyo cafe to use robot waiters operated by people with physical disabilities
Japan is taking steps to fight social isolation by employing robots in as many aspects of life as possible. After introducing autonomous robots in various roles in a hospital and a number of nursing homes and schools, a cafe in Tokyo will soon open with robotic waiters controlled remotely by people with physical disabilities who wouldn't be able to work otherwise.
Chinese hotpot restaurant gets robot waiters, may soon be serving droids as well (video)
Why, it's another robot-themed hotpot restaurant! This time we're looking at Jinan -- once famous for demolishing a whole stash of illegal arcade machines -- up in north China, where a ballsy robotics manufacturer started trialling a robot-themed eatery. While there are still human chefs working back in the kitchen, some near-hundred customers will be served by six robots (about ¥40,000 or $6,000 each to build) that follow a white line to seat diners and deliver dishes. Oh, and don't expect any slapstick comedy here -- these bland-looking droids will only stop if you dare stand in front of them. You'll have to hurry up, though, as this venue closes in about 16 days; but for those who can't make it, we've got a video right after the break.
Robots to perform menial tasks by 2025, write for Engadget quite a bit sooner
While robots have certainly been around for a spell doing things like sweeping your floors and conducting symphonies, up till now they haven't been "human enough" to replace actual people. According to a new report from the National Intelligence Council, however, they should be up to the task by 2025. The report goes as far as saying that an influx of robo-workers could even "disrupt unskilled labor markets" and occupy jobs currently performed by migrant workers and hapless high school students. Additionally, the report asserts that new technologies could be used to augment human abilities as well, taking on jobs such as caring for the elderly. Unfortunately, the report had no word on the progress of synthetic saliva glands for the inevitable robo-waiter, so no need to fret -- yet.[Image courtesy of benefisho]
CAFERO robot waiter serves coffee, does nothing for your loneliness
If Yujin Robot has its way, cafes the world over will someday replace their waitstaff with robots like CAFERO (shown above at Robot World 2008 in Seoul). Details are scarce, but apparently the automaton takes orders on a touch screen and fills them with the help of a human operator (though it's only a matter of time before the carbon-based barista is obsolete). Robot waitresses don't flirt and they don't ask for tips: does CAFERO represent food service utopia or a chilling vision of the future? Only time will tell.[Via Hallyu Tech]
Cyber Robotics Technology's Robo Waiter 1
We guess it really is hard to find decent help these days, as we're turning to robotic creatures to replace firefighters, soldiers, nurses, surgeons, and now waiters. Hong Kong's Cyber Robotics Technology has crafted the $5,000 Robo Waiter 1 -- which eerily resembles the hack job creations seen in science fiction films circa 1985 -- to entice customers to visit simply for the unique experience of having a robotic creation facilitate the ordering process. The oddly proportioned 'bot sports a shiny head with flashing lights for his eyes / mouth, and is used to guide guests to their tables as well as take their orders once ready. The audio from the customers is apparently channeled into the kitchen, where we're sure some form of Chinese cookbot takes care of the food preparation. Unfortunately, you're still forced to have a small dose of human interaction, as the eatery hasn't quite figured out how to fire replace those chaps bringing the meals to your table just yet. While we aren't certain if the robot is completely autonomous or controlled by some greater being (read: the off-duty chef), it has reportedly increased business by "20 to 30 percent" since joining the staff, so if your diner needs a reliable assistant on the cheap, be sure to peep this guy in action.[Via The Raw Feed]
