AI robot serves customers at Seoul restaurant
An artificial intelligence serving robot moves during a demonstration at a restaurant in Seoul, South Korea, September 15, 2020. Reuters
Unlock Exclusive Insights with The Tribune Premium
Take your experience further with Premium access. Thought-provoking Opinions, Expert Analysis, In-depth Insights and other Member Only Benefits
Advertisement
“Aglio Kim”, a trolley-like robot which uses Artificial Intelligence (AI), is delivering food to customers at a restaurant in Seoul, in order to minimise human contact and help ensure social distancing.
Shortly after customers order through a touch-screen on the table, the 1.25-metre-tall robot, developed by South Korean telecoms company KT Corp, brings the food and uses its visual SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) capabilities to avoid obstacles and navigate around customers.
Advertisement
The robot can deliver food to up to four tables at once, KT’s AI Platform Business Team leader Lee Young-jin said.
Can carry up to 30 kg
The AI robot is equipped with food trays which can carry up to 30 kg and an LCD screen and speaker that communicate in both Korean and English.
Advertisement
“Customers found the robot serving quite unique and interesting, and also felt safe from the coronavirus,” said Lee Young-ho, a manager at the Mad for Garlic restaurant which has tested the robot this month.
From Monday, restaurants and cafes in the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area are allowed to open after 9 pm, but must leave two metres between tables and record patrons’ names and contact details.
KT said that they aim to supply more robots for restaurants this year and will unveil a second model with AI voice recognition technology early next year. Reuters
Advertisement
Advertisement