The robotics arm of Japanese conglomerate Softbank will bring service robots made by Bear Robotics to address labor shortages and ensure social distancing in restaurants in Japan.
Leading robotics manufacturer and solutions provider, Softbank Robotics Group, on Monday (September 28) announced that they have collaborated with Bear Robotics based in Redwood City, California to bring a new robot named Servi to the country’s foodservice and hospitality industry.
With a growing need for labor amid the coronavirus pandemic, the foodservice and hospitality industry in Japan has been experiencing a decline in labor as health measures are in place to ensure physical distancing in many restaurants and hotels in the country.
The recent partnership has brought SoftBank Robotics Group’s vast experience in developing and commercializing service robots with Bear Robotics’ unrivaled robotics technology.
“Working together has allowed both companies to meet skyrocketing demand for these autonomous indoor robots in restaurants and other dining venues,” the companies said in a joint statement.
What are the features of the Servi robot?
With the push of a button, Servi which was previously called Penny, can autonomously deliver food and drinks to tables and kitchens removing the need for human contact and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
It comes in a regular Servi Robot model with a high-capacity, a multi-purpose and versatile design ideal for restaurants and a Servi Mini Robot version that is more suited for bar running, drink delivery, and bussing.
Servi, with the push of a button, is self-driving and teams with restaurant managers to carry dishes from the kitchen to the table. It maps out the restaurant service areas for efficient service. Multiple robots can also operate inside the restaurant at the same time for faster food delivery and service while performance analytics allows owners to monitor and improve service delivery.
Servi has delivered food to over 110,000 tables so far while navigating through crowded corridors and spaces within restaurants and feeding over 200,000 customers. According to Bear Robotics, it also has the capacity to speak the local language of its customers using artificial intelligence. It is also equipped with cameras and laser sensors to ensure safety by stopping and changing course whenever there is an obstruction.
According to its creators, Servi has been developed to be a new member of the foodservice workforce to assist staff and elevate the overall customer experience.
“Servi’s agility and object detection put its safety in a class of its own. Servi comes with additional features like bussing, drink delivery, and patrol mode. This will allow restaurant and dining hall owners to maximize their operating efficiency, while also elevating service quality to customers,” the Softbank Robotics and Bear Robotics joint statement added.
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