What we have so far that one can consider a "robotic bartender" is either a machine that can assist in mixing drinks or apps that can tell people how to create desired cocktails. Those who have exacting standards in the way their beverage are delivered would probably avoid them like the plague. This, however, is bound to change as engineers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) demonstrated this summer a team of truly working robots that will not only mix drinks but actually carry the beverages to waiting customers.
The early testing showed that these prototypes, called BeerBots, already excel in their line of work despite unpredictable environs. Indeed, the novelty of having a robotic attendant catering to our alcoholic whims could be drastically tempered by cases of spilled drinks since we are talking about dispensing and handling liquid, after all. The new robots can allegedly breeze through this challenge.
The team of MIT researchers created an algorithm for a team of BeerBots, a PR2 robot "bartender" and two four-wheeled open-source "Turtlebot" kits to act as waiters, Engadget reported. The technology is built to address the uncertain environment that a mechanized server is expected to encounter. The researchers, for instance, programmed their AI to view tasks in the same way humans do, according to the Daily Mail. It is for this reason why the bartender robots can do the so-called "macro-actions" or complex and high-level maneuvers. This supposedly gave the robotic team the kind of flexibility to adapt in different environments.
The robots are also programmed to work as a team, communicating with each other as they receive and fulfill customer orders. As a result, the MIT researchers claim that the robotic bartenders will be able to outdo their human counterparts with the speed and, undoubtedly, dedication they devote to their job. This character distinguishes BeerBots from other previously developed machines, according to Beta Boston.
The MIT researchers also pointed out that the BeerBots' capabilities will also make them useful in search and rescue operations.
