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Robotics Technology

Robotic Bartender Assembles Your Drink, Monitors Alcohol Consumption 138

Posted by samzenpus from the spun-like-a-centrifuge-not-stirred dept.
First time accepted submitter Sabine Hauert writes in with news about a robotic bartending system called Makr Shakr. "You're at a busy bar. You order your personalized cocktail through a smart phone app; a drink dispenser measures out the beverage according to your instructions and a Kuka robotic arm give it a shake (or stir), while another garnishes it with a slice of lemon; the made-to-order concoction is delivered to your waiting hand via a slick little ten-lane conveyor belt. The 'mixology system' tracks your order from start to finish: a large display behind the bar shows you the number of drinks ahead of yours in the queue, the current wait time, and lets you know when your drink is ready to be picked up. It also shows you what's popular to drink tonight among both the ladies and the gents in the crowd, and lets you influence drinking trends in real-time by incorporating your suggested tweaks on popular recipes."
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Robotic Bartender Assembles Your Drink, Monitors Alcohol Consumption More

Robotic Bartender Assembles Your Drink, Monitors Alcohol Consumption

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  • Another job is lost. (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 16, 2013 @10:07PM (#43747793)
    Head hanging low, the ex-bartender heads down to the welfare office to apply for the entitlement. Your cheap night at the bar is followed by an enormous tax bill.

    • Well at least this bar tender will just require some wi-fi and cracking by a script kiddie probably to violate all of it's directives and provide free booze. No personal skills required. Fits right in with the inhumane detachment of people these days.

      Who knows maybe you will be able to just post something on facebook to fool it.

      • *from your shiny new iphone

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by c0lo ( 1497653 )

          *from your shiny new iphone

          Why? If I can do cheaper with a second-hand Android, I'll have more money to spend on whatever else.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by Anonymous Coward
        In most states you have to be 18 (or 21) to serve alcohol. So no worries about these newly manufactured robots for a while.

        • What if you assemble the robot out of 18/21 year old surplus equiptment?

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by jamesh ( 87723 )

            What if you assemble the robot out of 18/21 year old surplus equiptment?

            Or new equipment made from atoms "created" in an exploding sun [mb]illions of years ago?

        • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

          by cayenne8 ( 626475 )
          Well, I for one, do NOT welcome our robotic bartender overlords.

          I like a real human bartender. One that I get to know, that knows me....at bars I'm a regular at, I like to have them set my usual drink in front of me when I sit down. I like that since I'm a good tipper...I get pretty heavily poured drinks.

          I don't want anyone counting my drinks either.

          • YES! I want two TV cameras with the integrated Alcohol Measuring / Intoxication System scanning my every sip with a clock and my weight stats then calling the cops as soon as I rise to take a piss?
              Will the robot continually check your eye reflex, looking for that little JERK!

            Interesting fact: Idiot =Jerk = Yank = Northern USA native.

            Sign me up! I'm into bars and gray bars and penis flavored pina-colada shaped glasses.

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by jamesh ( 87723 )

            Well, I for one, do NOT welcome our robotic bartender overlords.

            I like a real human bartender. One that I get to know, that knows me....at bars I'm a regular at, I like to have them set my usual drink in front of me when I sit down. I like that since I'm a good tipper...I get pretty heavily poured drinks.

            I don't want anyone counting my drinks either.

            There will be enough people like this that your needs will be accommodated. Instead of drinking at your local "hipster & automaton" you'll be drinking at the "luddite & technophobe".

          • I don't want anyone counting my drinks either.

            How will you pay your bill on your way out then? :)

      • all you have to do is get the robot to violate its prime directive, and all heck will break loose. wait sorry, wrong show!

    • Re:Another job is lost. (Score:4, Insightful)

      by pokoteng ( 2729771 ) on Thursday May 16, 2013 @10:23PM (#43747913)
      Don't think so. Although it's common to imagine a bartender as someone who just pours drinks, it's just as possible to say a programmer is someone who types stuff into a computer to do some work. It doesn't even scratch the surface of any actual professional work.

      I'd say the robot would be good enough to do pre-mix drinks, for people who don't particularly care for the drink. Sort of like a vending machine. For actual bartending work involving complex cocktail production, where the bartender needs to have extremely high perception, flexibility, stability, control in mixing the drinks in just the perfect timing, temperature, amount, AND on top of that being social and friendly with ability to reply to the drinkers who sit at the bar? Nah, I think bartenders will still hold a job for a long while yet.

      At least, until we get robots that pass turing test. Then we're all fucked.

      • In high class establishments or under the radar establishments that are more or less community driven yes.

        At the meat market or in low class establishments. They might as well have fending machines selling whatever drugs are in vogue.

        But if I was to go to a 'bar' I would be genuinely interested in meeting people who know how to order a drink vs "just give me whatever will fuck me up". Haven't seen a place like that in the states in awhile.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by dgatwood ( 11270 )

        For actual bartending work involving complex cocktail production, where the bartender needs to have extremely high perception, flexibility, stability, control in mixing the drinks in just the perfect timing, temperature, amount, AND on top of that being social and friendly with ability to reply to the drinkers who sit at the bar?

        Well, except for that last part, I'd expect the robots to immediately do a better job. The last part can be handled by an ordinary member of the wait staff without lots of experie

        • Again, you're underestimating the careful care a (good) bartender has to follow when preparing for drinks. Say for instance, the recipe calls for lemon juice. A typical implementation of a robot would be to have lemon juice prepared earlier, but that has different taste profile to freshly juiced lemon. Then ok, let's have a juicer... except are you going to also roll the lemon carefully first to bring out the juice and flavour before cutting it carefully for the wedge? Or are you going to shred/press it? Ho

          • Again, you're underestimating the careful care a (good) bartender has to follow when preparing for drinks. Say for instance, the recipe calls for lemon juice. A typical implementation of a robot would be to have lemon juice prepared earlier, but that has different taste profile to freshly juiced lemon. Then ok, let's have a juicer... except are you going to also roll the lemon carefully first to bring out the juice and flavour before cutting it carefully for the wedge? Or are you going to shred/press it? How are you going to do careful presentation work on the slice, like zesting it? Carefully pinch the skin to bring out the oils from the skin, but not actually put it in the drink?

            And hell, that's just lemons.

            I can't imagine having machines that are yet delicate enough to do this quickly, that are also small enough to fit in a bar, as well as being so versatile. Most likely, for a while yet, only humans can do the task considering how delicate the work is.

            I am sorry but your explanation still does not convince me that these tasks (step-by-step in certain timely manner) can be perfectly done only by humans. If you are arguing about these tasks can't be done by the current technology and/or with the same amount of money that pay to hire bartenders, then I would accept that. Robots are good at doing tasks precisely if it is correctly set up. All you are talking are tasks. Unless you are talking about emotions and communication (the social part), I don't see th

      • At least, until we get robots that pass turing test. Then we're all fucked.

        I was just hoping for robots with tits :)

    • In some areas self serve beer taps are not legal.

    • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward

      Head hanging low, the ex-bartender heads down to the welfare office to apply for the entitlement.

      Not a chance in hell. Not until they make a realistic looking cleavage on that bartender!

    • Back in my bar hopping days.
      The bars I went back to were the ones I could have a conversation with the bartender, regardless of their sex.
      You don't pick up the bartender. It's nice to chat with them when they aren't busy.
      Interaction is part of the bar scene.
      Hard to do that with a robot

      • Back in my bar hopping days.

        The bars I went back to were the ones I could have a conversation with the bartender, regardless of their sex.

        You don't pick up the bartender. It's nice to chat with them when they aren't busy.

        Interaction is part of the bar scene.

        Hard to do that with a robot

        Looks like you'll have to chat up the robot maintenance guy instead.

    • Said ex-bartender is later found in his home, slumped in front of a computer with Vega Strike in fullscreen, dead of an apparent suicide. Hillary Clinton blames the game for driving him melancholy, and promises to ban all such games with robot bartenders. Rand Paul calls it "yet another scary example of government overreach", while Mike Bloomberg calls for his own ban on illegal capship turrets and milspec vessels ("You don't need a Goddard [vega-strike.org] to fly to the bodega," he pleadingly says).

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Hentes ( 2461350 )

      We've had machines that mix softdrinks for decades, if there was demand for an automated bartender they would exist by now.

  • How realistic can it get? (Score:4, Funny)

    by GodfatherofSoul ( 174979 ) on Thursday May 16, 2013 @10:09PM (#43747809)

    Will it pretend to ignore you while hitting on a co-ed at the end of the bar? I really won't feel comfortable unless it tries to short me change and hope I'm too drunk to notice, then give me a dirty look when I skimp on the tip.

  • Drinks for the ladies (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Osgeld ( 1900440 ) on Thursday May 16, 2013 @10:12PM (#43747827)

    so how does it know that that drink you just ordered did not get handed to your new friend?

    • I assume that v2 will include facial recognition cameras, a body-tracking kinect-style sensor, and full integration with facebook so that the entire internet can know who you are hitting on before the drink has even finished changing hands...

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by mjwx ( 966435 )

      so how does it know that that drink you just ordered did not get handed to your new friend?

      It pre spikes it for you.

  • It does work... saw it at Google I/O After Hours (Score:4, Informative)

    by billylo ( 158826 ) on Thursday May 16, 2013 @10:20PM (#43747889)

    One of these systems were in action at Google I/O After Hours Party last night. Pretty neat.

  • Can it do a age check?

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Greyfox ( 87712 )
      It can probably check your birthday on your facebook page. That information is probably also encoded on the magstripe or 3D bar-code on your driver's license.

  • ... get that with blackjack and hookers?

  • I think "Makr Shakr" might not be the right name for an alcoholic beverage-related product. It sounds vaguely Arabic, and the Arab world still has Prohibition.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Osgeld ( 1900440 )

      that's pretty ignorant

      • sad, I agree.
        ignorant on multiple levels.
        seemingly random malicious hate is pervasive.
        people make hateful comments without considering their impact.
        others do it deliberately, but it's pretty much impossible to tell which is which.
        are you innocently posting something inappropriate, or are you a racist with an agenda?

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by mjwx ( 966435 )

      I think "Makr Shakr" might not be the right name for an alcoholic beverage-related product. It sounds vaguely Arabic, and the Arab world still has Prohibition.

      That's OK, we're planning to sell them the militarised version of this robot, the Mastr Blastr.

  • Hey! (Score:3)

    by Black Parrot ( 19622 ) on Thursday May 16, 2013 @10:37PM (#43748007)

    I thought the last story said we had 30 years before this happens.

  • As long as it understands "Keep 'em coming".

  • Ok, this might be useful at the airport or something. But I actually like to talk to the bartenders at my favorite bars.

  • That's quite a dystopia you've got there. (Score:5, Funny)

    by __aaltlg1547 ( 2541114 ) on Thursday May 16, 2013 @11:38PM (#43748323)
    # profanity --maximum

    Jesus Christ on a stick! an iPhone app? Who the fuck wants to order drinks with a motherfucking iPhone app? What's wrong with using my god damned voice to order my fucking drinks? Who wants to know how many other drinks and in the fucking queue? Do you really think I want to know what horse piss the other doucebags are putting in their drinks?

    What makes you imagine I want some machine tracking my drinking habits, much less to be made aware of it?
    # profanity off

    Why would I want to go to a BAR to avoid SOCIAL INTERACTION with OTHER PEOPLE?

    • Re: (Score:3)

      by eWarz ( 610883 )
      > Why would I want to go to a BAR to avoid SOCIAL INTERACTION with OTHER PEOPLE? Umm...to drink? I do it all the time!

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by stymy ( 1223496 )
        Why? You pay so much more than if you just drink at home.

        • Why? You pay so much more than if you just drink at home.

          The extra paid is a finders fee to meeting other similarly buzzed people, and perhaps some of them would want to have sex with you before your night is over.

          • Why? You pay so much more than if you just drink at home.

            The extra paid is a finders fee to meeting other similarly buzzed people, and perhaps some of them would want to have sex with you before your night is over.

            So why not talk to them? This is my main point. You are at the bar for the social interaction.

            But the robotic bartender is all wrong for this purpose. Instead, it should be telling you how drunk the OTHER people in the bar are, so you can hit on the chick that's three sheets to the wind and will be easy to talk the underwear off of. A bartender might give you hints about that, but then he might have a conscience. The robotic bartender won't. It can be programmed to sell creeps Coca Cola and that info in

    • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

      by noh8rz10 ( 2716597 )

      What's wrong with using my god damned voice to order my fucking drinks?

      siri, please get me a rum and coke. OK! I have found 12 places named Rumco, 3 of which are fairly close to you. would you like me to get directions for you?

  • Sounds like a dystopian nightmare (Score:4, Interesting)

    by electron sponge ( 1758814 ) on Friday May 17, 2013 @12:14AM (#43748473)
    I prefer my drinks made by human beings, who I can thankfully tip for pouring my two fingers of bourbon to three fingers, and also show my appreciation with a smile and conversation. Anything other than a human is just a vending machine. Remember that the next time you're out, and tip generously. They don't make much money.
    • Dystopian future indeed where bar stops taking my money after i get too drunk to handle a drink ordering app on my phone. That would effectively cut my drinking out night in half.
  • Sounds like a liability. "That car accident wasn't my fault. That particular robotic bartender always manages my alcohol intake perfectly, so it is the one at fault for screwing up and letting me drink a little too much, too fast. It was programmed to cut me off one drink sooner but a bug let it give me one more drink, and made me t-bone a taxi full of nuns on vacation."

    I'll take the bartender I know, who pours me a beer the moment I walk in the door and makes sure I have a ride on the rare occasion when

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by tlhIngan ( 30335 )

      Sounds like a liability. "That car accident wasn't my fault. That particular robotic bartender always manages my alcohol intake perfectly, so it is the one at fault for screwing up and letting me drink a little too much, too fast. It was programmed to cut me off one drink sooner but a bug let it give me one more drink, and made me t-bone a taxi full of nuns on vacation."

      I'll take the bartender I know, who pours me a beer the moment I walk in the door and makes sure I have a ride on the rare occasion

  • "lets you influence drinking trends in real-time by incorporating your suggested tweaks on popular recipes."

    Roofie for the cute blonde girl

  • tip it a few hexadecimals in knowledge to jump ahead in the queue?
  • Comment removed based on user account deletion
  • All these comments and not one single reference to The FIfth Element's bartender in the ship port. ... YOU WANT SOME MORE?

  • ...just an augmentation. And it neatly avoids the uncanny valley by not even remotely resembling our upright, bipedal, bi-laterally symmetric physiognomy. My friend owns three bars here in the old pueblo -- a college-centric meat market within stumbling distance of the UofA campus, a Cheers-type bar&grill in one of the most affluent residential districts in the city, and a trendy techno bar on 4th Avenue, which is Tucson's own Haight-Ashbury. The reception this system would get would largely depend o

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