Experimental restaurant staffed by robots opens in Tokyo

[Sherman A1]

Japan's Kawasaki Heavy Industries has opened a restaurant staffed by robots. The operation will provide the company with data to improve robot development to help ease labor shortages.

The restaurant is located in the machinery maker's research facility near Haneda Airport in Tokyo and is equipped with seven robots.

Customers place their orders by smartphone. Robots in the kitchen heat up packs of soup or curry and pour them into cups. They also use microwaves for rice.

Other robots deliver meals to tables and serve them using two arms. They also collect empty plates. Payments and garbage are handled by human staff.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220420_43/

[Ray Bruns]

1. Did the robots look something like this?

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[madville]

2. Still a long way to go before it's viable

Tried to go to an automated burger restaurant in San Francisco a few years ago, idea was robots cooked and prepared the burgers. The robot was broken the day we tried to go though and they had humans doing it. Last I looked it’s no longer in business.