December 8, 2006
Robot Bartenders
They mix the drinks and insult the customers. Next year they will light your cigar too.
From Reuters here:
Staring with glowing red eyes at a young woman strolling by, bartender Chapok slowly extends his arm to offer her a gin and orange.
She takes the glass, murmurs a flustered “thank you” and walks away while the cocktail-mixing robot turns his attention back to a row of bottles.
Chapok is one of around 30 robots at Vienna’s annual Roboexotica, which showcases how home-built machines deal with the modern pastime of hanging out in bars.
Robots were invited to demonstrate their skills in categories like mixing cocktails, serving drinks and snacks, bar conversation and smoking cigarettes and cigars.