Flying robots to start serving in restaurants by end-2015
Flying robots to start serving in restaurants by end-2015
By Robin Choo
POSTED: 27 Nov 2014 14:57
UPDATED: 27 Nov 2014 23:46
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong observes a smart flying
robotic waiter serving food during a demonstration on Oct 7, 2014. (Photo:
TODAY/Ooi Boon Keong)
SINGAPORE: Restaurant-goers in Singapore can expect to be
served by autonomous flying robots – the world’s first commercial attempt – by
the end of next year.
Infinium-Serve, the autonomous flying robotic waiters,
will be first launched at one of Timbre Group’s five outlets in Singapore.
Infinium Robotics CEO Woon Junyang estimated the project to cost a “low
seven-figure sum” for the five outlets, subject to final negotiations and
certain variables of the actual deployment of the robots.
Infinium Robotics signed a Memorandum of Understanding
with Timbre Group on Oct 31. Both companies are seeking productivity-related
government grants to help offset deployment costs.
Mr Woon said he is confident that such robotic solutions
will help alleviate the Singapore’s labour crunch. Introducing this technology
into restaurants would take away mundane tasks of serving food and drinks, and
allow human waiters to focus on higher-value tasks such as getting feedback
from customers, he said.
“This will result in an enhanced dining experience which
will eventually lead to increased sales and revenue for the restaurants,” he
added.
A prototype of Infinium-Serve was showcased to Prime
Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the inaugural launch of the National Productivity
Month in early October.
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