A $33K robot barista serves 120 cups of coffee an hour

Re:A $33K robot barista serves 120 cups of coffee an hour by ovi256 on Thursday March 14, 2019 @07:06AM (#19388124)

But why go the antropomorphic way of getting a robotized hand to copy the steps the barista makes ?

It usually makes more sense to make a coffee machine that does those steps internally. It's easier in the controlled environment internal to a machine. A espresso coffee vending machine seems to be doing some of them already, like grinding the coffee.

All it's lacking is a cup transport system like a conveyor belt to put the cup in from a cup stockpile and to later serve it. You could even automate recovering the cup, cleaning it and restoking it.

Is there strong customer preference for a robot arm serving the cup rather than a conveyor belt ?

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Re:A $33K robot barista serves 120 cups of coffee an hour by close04 on Thursday March 14, 2019 @07:08AM (#19388138)

> But why go the anthropomorphic way of getting a robotized hand to copy the steps the barista makes ?

I'd guess for the wow effect. Such a system is much harder to calibrate and maintain than a regular automation line. But a lot sexier also. Maybe the perception and experience of getting the cup from a robotic arm is more appealing to customers than getting it from a conveyor belt?

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Re:A $33K robot barista serves 120 cups of coffee an hour by mattkrause on Thursday March 14, 2019 @10:48AM (#19389678)

We went to a bar with an anthropomorphic robot bartender and it was fun to watch, especially since it “bantered” with the customers: it had a few jokes, did a little dance when certain music came on, and so on.

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