02-11-2012, 04:33 PM
Robo Restaurant: High Tech Robotic Waiter with Touch Drawn Path Following, Touch Select Color Menu, MP3 Voice and Wireless Tables
Robo Restaurant.docx (Size: 826.15 KB / Downloads: 37)
Abstract
The value of an hour of labor is likely to skyrocket. As the information technology sector in India is exploding there is no need for child labors and young people to work as waiters in hotels and restaurants. Humans must be used for selective important works, not for mechanical works. Also, when the bulk of its aging population becomes too old to work, labor is going to be in severe shortage. This scarcity and expense of employee time makes the case for automation a lot stronger.
The project goal is to develop a smart automated robotic restaurant around a cute little robot that fulfills the role of a waiter. Called by a wireless module embedded in the table when a customer arrives, the waiter reaches the table using a path tracking mechanism, greets them with voice, shows the food menu on a color display, takes orders from customers through a touch screen, relays them to the kitchen, and brings the food out to the customer table when it's ready.
To navigate the restaurant, the robot needs to know the path to be followed and the table locations. This information is input by drawing the path on the touchscreen and the robot will follow this virtual path in the real world. The robot uses a precise control mechanism using trajectory tracking method to reach the customer table.
Robo restaurant eliminates ordering errors, reduces staffing costs dramatically for restaurant owners, and could earn extra tips to the boss. The technology could be easily extended to libraries, medical shops, department stores, jewel shops, clothing stores etc. In India, there are young girls trained only to greet a customer in shops mentioned. With voice facility, the waiter robot can replace them too. Hope they won’t talk between them.
Of course, slaves have a worrying habit of rising up against their owners - and so robo restaurant owners had to treat these cute little waiters with some respect!