<strong>Your friendly neighborhood robot:</strong> Facing rising costs and labor shortages, the hospitality sector is searching for high-tech solutions -- and robotics companies are answering the call. Hong Kong-based tech startup <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ricerobotics.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Rice Robotics</a> has deployed its cute, charismatic delivery robot in hotels, cafes and offices in Japan and Hong Kong. <strong>Check out the other service bots giving hospitality a helping hand. </strong>
Your friendly neighborhood robot: Facing rising costs and labor shortages, the hospitality sector is searching for high-tech solutions -- and robotics companies are answering the call. Hong Kong-based tech startup Rice Robotics has deployed its cute, charismatic delivery robot in hotels, cafes and offices in Japan and Hong Kong. Check out the other service bots giving hospitality a helping hand.
Rice Robotics
<strong>Service with a cyborg: </strong>At the <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fdawn2021.orylab.com%2Fen%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">DAWN Avatar Robot Cafe in Tokyo</a>, Japan, robots are not autonomous but are controlled remotely by people who struggle in conventional jobs because of disabilities or lifestyle constraints. The wheelchair accessible cafe strives for inclusivity, and currently has 70 "pilots" who control the barista robot and server robot (pictured) from home or hospital.
Service with a cyborg: At the DAWN Avatar Robot Cafe in Tokyo, Japan, robots are not autonomous but are controlled remotely by people who struggle in conventional jobs because of disabilities or lifestyle constraints. The wheelchair accessible cafe strives for inclusivity, and currently has 70 "pilots" who control the barista robot and server robot (pictured) from home or hospital.
OryLab Inc.
<strong>Smart waiters:</strong> Based in Shanghai, China, Keenon has been building AI-powered service robots since 2010 that assist with food delivery and plate collection. Its robots have been deployed in over 600 cities around the world, and it has <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.keenon.com%2FEN%2FAbout.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">33,000 robots</a> active daily.
Smart waiters: Based in Shanghai, China, Keenon has been building AI-powered service robots since 2010 that assist with food delivery and plate collection. Its robots have been deployed in over 600 cities around the world, and it has 33,000 robots active daily.
KEENON Robotics
<strong>Robot runner:</strong> Robots aren't just serving diners in Asia. Servi by USA-based <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bearrobotics.ai" target="_blank" target="_blank">Bear Robotics</a> is helping fast food chains like Chilli's, Denny's and Highway 55 (pictured) offer slicker service amid staff shortages. By running orders from the kitchen to tables, it allows human staff to focus on more skilled tasks. The autonomous robots are also providing support in retirement homes and elderly care centers.
Robot runner: Robots aren't just serving diners in Asia. Servi by USA-based Bear Robotics is helping fast food chains like Chilli's, Denny's and Highway 55 (pictured) offer slicker service amid staff shortages. By running orders from the kitchen to tables, it allows human staff to focus on more skilled tasks. The autonomous robots are also providing support in retirement homes and elderly care centers.
Bear Robotics
<strong>Drinks machine: </strong>And automated androids aren't just delivering drinks -- they're making them, too. <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.richtechrobotics.com%2Fadam" target="_blank" target="_blank">ADAM by Richtech Robots</a> can operate as a barista or bartender, using multi-jointed robotic arms to create coffee concoctions or pull pints.
Drinks machine: And automated androids aren't just delivering drinks -- they're making them, too. ADAM by Richtech Robots can operate as a barista or bartender, using multi-jointed robotic arms to create coffee concoctions or pull pints.
Arnold Placencia-Flores/Richtech Robotics
ADAM can even shake cocktails, allowing it to moonlight as a mixologist for bars, such as the HL Peninsula Restaurant in San Francisco, California, where it has been operating since July 2022.
ADAM can even shake cocktails, allowing it to moonlight as a mixologist for bars, such as the HL Peninsula Restaurant in San Francisco, California, where it has been operating since July 2022.
Arnold Placencia-Flores/Richtech Robotics
<strong>YO-bot: </strong>Guests at YOTEL Boston, Massachusetts, can have amenities and room service delivered to their door by <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yotel.com%2Fen%2Fpress%2Fyotel-boston-x-uvd-robots-partnership" target="_blank" target="_blank">butler-bot YO2D2</a> (named after Star Wars' sassy droid, R2D2). During the pandemic, the hotel also added a disinfection robot to the team, Vi-YO-Let, built by UVD Robots.
YO-bot: Guests at YOTEL Boston, Massachusetts, can have amenities and room service delivered to their door by butler-bot YO2D2 (named after Star Wars' sassy droid, R2D2). During the pandemic, the hotel also added a disinfection robot to the team, Vi-YO-Let, built by UVD Robots.
YOTEL Boston
<strong>A world first:</strong> While its robots aren't the newest, Henn na Hotel in Japan was the first hotel to be staffed by robots when it opened in 2015. Ultimately, the hotel had to cut back its robot staff and hire more people when it ran into operational problems.
A world first: While its robots aren't the newest, Henn na Hotel in Japan was the first hotel to be staffed by robots when it opened in 2015. Ultimately, the hotel had to cut back its robot staff and hire more people when it ran into operational problems.
Henn na Hotel
While robots might not be perfect for every role, simple and repetitive tasks are ideal. Henn na Hotel still has robots managing its check-in desk, including doll-like androids and robot dinosaurs.
While robots might not be perfect for every role, simple and repetitive tasks are ideal. Henn na Hotel still has robots managing its check-in desk, including doll-like androids and robot dinosaurs.
Henn na Hotel
<strong>Mean, lean, cleaning machine:</strong> Cleaning is one area in which robots have been able to make a big difference for hotels and restaurants during the pandemic. <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ricerobotics.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Rice Robotics</a> adapted its original delivery robot, Rice, to create Jasmine (pictured). Jasmine autonomously sanitizes places like malls, offices and airports, using spray nozzles on her "head."
Mean, lean, cleaning machine: Cleaning is one area in which robots have been able to make a big difference for hotels and restaurants during the pandemic. Rice Robotics adapted its original delivery robot, Rice, to create Jasmine (pictured). Jasmine autonomously sanitizes places like malls, offices and airports, using spray nozzles on her "head."
Rice Robotics
<strong>Smart patrol:</strong> Robots can also help monitor public spaces. Portal, Rice Robotics' third product, is taller with a touch screen, two-way intercom and streaming cameras for patrolling public areas -- such as Captain C, pictured at the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Center. As well as making deliveries, Portal can guide visitors and gather live data about its environment, such as body temperatures and air quality.
Smart patrol: Robots can also help monitor public spaces. Portal, Rice Robotics' third product, is taller with a touch screen, two-way intercom and streaming cameras for patrolling public areas -- such as Captain C, pictured at the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Center. As well as making deliveries, Portal can guide visitors and gather live data about its environment, such as body temperatures and air quality.
Rice Robotics