A table-waiting robot cat built by a Chinese technology firm can carry plates of food, navigate a restaurant, miaow at diners — and even react to having its ears stroked.
Making its debut at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas tomorrow, the so-called BellaBot was built for Chinese restaurants lacking enough waiters.
The cute service bot is just one of a number of wacky automatons featuring in the tech show — alongside a robot that can do yoga and tai chi poses.
BellaBot features four shelves in the centre of its tower-like body to carry plates. Having been loaded up with meals by its human colleagues, the cat-themed robotic waiter miaows when it delivers food to diners to encourage them to take their plates
The table-waiting robot cat built by a Chinese technology firm can carry plates of food, navigate a restaurant, miaow at diners — and even react to having its ears stroked, as pictured
BellaBot — which can navigate around obstacles and its fellow robots — is the brainchild of the Chinese robotics and artificial intelligence firm PuduTech
BellaBot — which can navigate around obstacles and its fellow robots — is the brainchild of the Chinese robotics and artificial intelligence firm PuduTech.
It features four shelves in the centre of its tower-like body to carry plates.
Having been loaded up with meals by its human colleagues, the cat-themed robotic waiter miaows when it delivers food to diners to encourage them to take their plates.
If customers thank BellaBot by stroking its ears, it will initially respond with a look of pleasure on its on-board screen, which displays animations of a stylised cat’s face.
‘The owner’s hand is so warm,’ BellaBot has been programmed to respond.
However — much like a real cat — the robot’s demeanour soon changes if it is petted for too long.
‘It gets mad to remind you not to interrupt its job,’ the designers told the BBC.
The BellaBot waiter robot is a more personality-rich update to PuduTech’s previous model, which featured a more utilitarian design and user interface.
Both BellaBot and its predecessor were designed with a particular mind to Chinese restaurateurs — who the firm suggests often find themselves short of waiting staff — with more than 2,000 restaurants already employing such robots.
At the Consumer Electronics Show on Tuesday January 7, PuduTech will be putting BellaBot through its paces on the demonstration floor in a special booth designed to resemble a futuristic restaurant.
If customers thank BellaBot by stroking its ears, it will initially respond with a look of pleasure on its on-board screen, which displays animations of a stylised cat’s face. ‘The owner’s hand is so warm,’ BellaBot has been programmed to respond
Both BellaBot and its predecessor were designed with a particular mind to Chinese restaurateurs — who the firm suggests often find themselves short of waiting staff — with more than 2,000 restaurants already employing such robots
At the Consumer Electronics Show on Tuesday January 7, PuduTech will be putting BellaBot through its paces on the demonstration floor in a special booth designed to resemble a futuristic restaurant
In a real-world food-service setting, however, BellaBot may find it difficult to operate at peak times when navigating a restaurant becomes trickier, PP Foresight technology consultant Paolo Pescatore told the BBC.
Nevertheless, he added, restaurants are anticipated to increase their reliance on automation — whether in the form of robotic waiting staff or otherwise.
Furthermore, improvements in technology will see consumer robot designs grow steadily better at communicating with humans and tackling new activities, Mr Pescatore said — with quirky, consumer-facing bots likely to be popular.
‘It is one of the fast-growing tech trends. Expect far more wackier robots in years to come,’ he concluded.
THE FUTURE IS MIAOW WITH THIS ROBOTIC PET CAT
BellaBot is not the only feline-themed robot being unveiled at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, however.
China-based startup Elephant Robotics will be taking the opportunity to introduce the world to MarsCat — which they describe at the world’s first bionic pet cat.
The robotic kitty can walk, stretch, knead, offer it paw and play with toys — alongside recognising human faces and responding to 20 different commands and phrases including ‘Hello’, ‘Come Here’ and ‘Sit’.
The robot — which will come in four colour coats and with six different personalities — will go on sale next year and is expected will come with a price tag of around $1,299 (£987).
MarsCat is powered by an open API and Raspberry Pi — allowing owners to customise its programming as they wish.
The robotic kitty can walk, stretch, knead, offer it paw and play with toys — alongside recognising human faces and responding to 20 different commands and phrases including ‘Hello’, ‘Come Here’ and ‘Sit’
The BellaBot waiter robot is a more personality-rich update to PuduTech’s previous model, pictured, which featured a more utilitarian design and user interface
Elsewhere at the electronics show this year, robotics firm UBTech will be highlighting the latest version of its ‘Walker’ robot, which can now perform various tai chi and yoga poses
Elsewhere at the electronics show this year, robotics firm UBTech will be highlighting the latest version of its ‘Walker’ robot, whose enhanced motion control allows it to perform various tai chi and yoga poses.
‘It’s continuously tracking its overall centre of gravity throughout the yoga positions,’ UBTech spokesperson Jeff Gordon told the BBC.
Walker, he added, is ‘the kind of dynamic [artificial intelligence] you would expect of a robot that “lives” in your home alongside your family, going up and down stairs, carrying heavy objects for you.’
The robot can do more than moves like the ‘Eagle Pose’ and ‘wave hands like clouds’, however — its other tricks include drawing pictures, pouring liquid into a cup and pushing carts.