Robot bartender humanoid Carl from Ben Schaefer, Germany [Archive] - Forums - Portal of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence

Airicist

14th March 2014, 13:32

https://youtu.be/HOtprgHrikI

Germany: Robot bartender serves up the future

Published on Jul 30, 2013

A bar with a robot bartender that helps its human counterparts serve drinks opened four weeks ago in the east German town of Ilmenau. The humanoid, named Carl, has the ability to measure spirits, mix cocktails, pre-make drinks for human bartenders and engage in simple conversations at the futuristic Robots Bar and Lounge.

Invented by mechatronics engineer Ben Schaefer, the robot was manufactured by H&S Robots using disused welding robots from German company KUKA. Schaefer spent about €50,000 ($66,000) on the project, although it has not proven more efficient or to save money compared to a human bartender.

Schaefer, who has worked in the mechatronics industry for 23 years, incorporated a high tech sensory belt and harness into the design to ensure that the robot does not spill drinks or crash behind the bar.

The robot, which stands at 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) tall, operates in a space themed bar, aptly decorated with stars, planets and a life-size NASA astronaut suit.

Carl has so far proved popular with students from the local Technical University, with many tech-fans frequenting the bar to catch a glimpse of the cutting edge creation.