On: Cat-Eared Robots Are Waiting Tables in Japan's Restaurants

[t-3]

This is basically just a roomba with trays on it, right?

Are they being unloaded by the customers? The article gives the impression that it's just carrying the trays and a human waiter is unloading, which seems like just a very expensive cart.

[qwerty456127 → t-3]

> This is basically just a roomba with trays on it, right? Are they being unloaded by the customers?

Yes. The customers are really happy wit this. Everyone likes cute kitty robots bringing dishes to their tables where they take everything themselves. The restaurants using these usually are more expensive than average. Here in the EU, I dunno about Japan.

[kalleboo → qwerty456127]

In Japan I've only seen them at cheap family restaurants and all-you-can-eat yakiniku (korean bbq) places where they want to save on labor.

[im3w1l → t-3]

I think you are underestimating the long term potential of robots like this to fit into a fully automated workflow.

Imagine a tablet ordering system relaying to a fully automated cooking machine unloading into a fully automated tray carrier. These all exist, although automated cooking is mostly proof of concept for now.