Bartending bots: A robot application you need to see to believe

We’ve all seen robots in industrial environments, but have you ever seen them mixing drinks at a bar? Two KUKA robots have been serving as bartenders on the deck of the MS Quantum of the Seas cruise ship since November 12. They take care of the drink orders for about 4,000 passengers in the Bionic Bar from Makr Shakr.

As a technical innovation, the application is integrated into the overall “smartship” concept. The offered services run from a Smart Check-In, to Smart Connect with Internet as fast as that on land, through to a round-the-clock jack-of-all-trades — the Smart Concierge wristband.

Once the guests enter the bar, they virtually create their drink via a smartphone or tablet app. Then the sky is the limit as far as drink orders go. The robots can execute options ranging from alcoholic to non-alcoholic beverages, as well as a full range of combinations.

As soon as the guest’s order has been sent, the KR 5 arc robots get to work. They grip the cocktail mixer, fill it with the desired ingredients, shake it and pour the finished cocktail into the glass. The robot only requires one minute to make two drinks. Their compact design makes the six-axis robots ideal for the bar environment. Thanks to the longest reach in their class, as well as their low weight, the robots are practically predestined for use on a cruise ship.

“Makr Shakr is an excellent example of how robot-based automation can change the interaction between humans and products — a topic that we have researched substantially,” says Carlo Ratti, professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and co-founder of Makr Shakr.

For more information, contact KUKA.

• Tweet