Mechanical Maitre D's feature in Jinan eatery
By Ken Teh |
December 23, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SERVICE with a smile also comes with an electronic voice at the Dalu Robot restaurant, where the hotpot meals are not as famous yet as the staff, who never lose their patience and never ask for tips.
The restaurant, which opened this month in Jinan in Shandong Province, is said to be China's first robot eatery where robots resembling Star Wars droids circle the room carrying trays of food in a conveyor belt-like system.
More than 10 robots operate as entertainers, servers, greeters and receptionists. Each robot has a motion sensor that tells it to stop when someone is in its path, so customers can reach for dishes they want.
The service industry in China has not always kept up with the country's economic growth, and can be quite basic in some restaurants, leading customers in the Dalu restaurant to praise the robots.
"They have a better service attitude than humans," said Li Xiaomei, 35, a first-time visitor to the restaurant.
"Humans can be temperamental or impatient, but the robots don't tire," Li said.
The restaurant's owner, Zhang Yongpei, said he hopes his restaurant will show the world China is a serious competitor in developing technology.
"I hope this new concept shows that China is forward-thinking and innovative," Zhang declared.
As customers enter the dimly lit restaurant, a "female" robot greets people with an electronic "welcome."
Customers are entertained by a dancing robot that looks like a mannequin in a dress.
Zhang said he hopes to roll out 30 robots - which cost US$6,000 each - in the coming months and eventually develop robots with human-like qualities that serve customers at their table and can walk up and down the stairs.
The restaurant, which opened this month in Jinan in Shandong Province, is said to be China's first robot eatery where robots resembling Star Wars droids circle the room carrying trays of food in a conveyor belt-like system.
More than 10 robots operate as entertainers, servers, greeters and receptionists. Each robot has a motion sensor that tells it to stop when someone is in its path, so customers can reach for dishes they want.
The service industry in China has not always kept up with the country's economic growth, and can be quite basic in some restaurants, leading customers in the Dalu restaurant to praise the robots.
"They have a better service attitude than humans," said Li Xiaomei, 35, a first-time visitor to the restaurant.
"Humans can be temperamental or impatient, but the robots don't tire," Li said.
The restaurant's owner, Zhang Yongpei, said he hopes his restaurant will show the world China is a serious competitor in developing technology.
"I hope this new concept shows that China is forward-thinking and innovative," Zhang declared.
As customers enter the dimly lit restaurant, a "female" robot greets people with an electronic "welcome."
Customers are entertained by a dancing robot that looks like a mannequin in a dress.
Zhang said he hopes to roll out 30 robots - which cost US$6,000 each - in the coming months and eventually develop robots with human-like qualities that serve customers at their table and can walk up and down the stairs.
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