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A Robotic Bartender, and How To Build One
Posted by
timothy
on Sat Jan 10, 2009 02:27 PM
from the why-not-a-bender dept.
from the why-not-a-bender dept.
Jamie Price writes with a nice tutorial on putting technology to use in the service of mankind, with one of his latest projects — BaR2D2. "BaR2D2 is a radio-controlled, mobile bar that features a motorized beer elevator, motorized ice/mixer drawer, six-bottle shot dispenser, and sound activated neon lighting. The robot is driveable so you can take the party on the road! It was created in my garage using standard hand/power tools and readily available parts and materials.
Here is a video of it in action.
To see the full how-to with tons of pictures, check out the build.
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Submission: Robotic Bartender by Anonymous Coward
[+]
The Best Robots of 2008 57 comments
An anonymous reader writes "Robot innovation continued its relentless advances during 2008. SingularityHub has a showcase of the best robot videos of the past year. These robot videos are really amazing, and they show just how far we have come in the field of robotics in recent years."
The videos include toy robots, robot musicians (which we've discussed in the past), modular robots that work together to move around, robots doing synchronized martial arts, the BigDog robot that can walk on almost any type of terrain, and robot soccer. We've also recently talked about a couple of robots that will bring you beer.
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OK. (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
and I'll take the low road. (Score:1)
It's not always a burp.
Re: (Score:1, Interesting)
I am amused, but the Bender Brewer has already beat this project to the punch.
http://www.asciimation.co.nz/bender/
Re: (Score:1, Informative)
Only his detractors call him things like "messiah" and "lordship" and they have become so shrill that people don't even listen. I didn't even read your spew.
Code? (Score:3, Insightful)
And there is completely nothing about the programming.
Re:Code? (Score:4, Informative)
Probably because there ISN'T any programming required.
As far as I can see, this thing isn't really a robot, as it has no autonomous capability. It is just a large RC vehicle with a beer and liquor dispenser on top.
The only "programming" involved is setting up a bunch of commercial R/C equipment as directed in the manuals.
Parent
Re:Code? (Score:4, Informative)
If you're looking for something to supplement your bar with the possibility of programming, there's always Bar Monkey [barmonkey.net]...
Parent
Re: (Score:1)
Hey that was pretty cool! Thanks for posting it :)
Re: (Score:2)
Is it sad that, even though my wife already approved of a bar monkey when we were looking at houses almost 2 years ago, I've yet to get around to building one?
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Do you think there is code? I read the TFA, even the elevator and spin table were interlocked mechanically (i mean hardware switch), and the drivetrain is taken from 2nd hand wheelchair. The whole thing is controlled by RC.
Which means...all were done with old good hardware.
Re: (Score:1)
It's proprietary! But that's what the Zelda music is for, right? Not just because a bunch of dudes want to listen to OCRemix at a party... right?
But, can you train it to say: (Score:2)
The Fifth Element comes to mind... (Score:2)
Yooouuu want some more? ...
Yooouuu want some more?
Re: (Score:2)
lol, me too. That was a great scene.
Oh I'll Be Building One (Score:1)
This reminds me of the system I want to build one of these days with all drink-dispensers hooked up to a voice-recognition system that parses commands:
"Computer! Make one martini, shaken not stirred! Engage!"
Instructions! Let me get on that right away. (Score:4, Funny)
That's all there is to it? Now it looks SO easy. I'll have that knocked out by 8:00 tonight.
I think Bender would say something like . . . (Score:2)
. . . "imagine how much booze and cigars I could have bought with the money that was spent on building that robot!"
Although, I think that Bender's favorite drink is, "that, for which someone else has paid for!"
Feh (Score:2)
BOTTLED beer.
This won't work (Score:4, Insightful)
It doesn't have breasts, a nice smile and beautiful [fill in your favorite color] hair.
Re:This won't work (Score:5, Funny)
Just keep on drinking . . . it will . . . eventually . . .
Parent
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Re: (Score:2)
Oh yes! I can see it now!
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No, but (Score:2)
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This may not have any use in Japan or Europe, but in America, just think about how much money you'd save on tips if this was implemented. The cost of drinking would be dramatically slashed.
Very nice design. (Score:3, Informative)
That is a nice piece of design. People like it.
The MotoMan RoboBar [youtube.com] is much more impressive technology, from a big robotics manufacturer, but it tries to be cool and fails. MotoMan's original slogan was "We already make your car. Now let us make your drink".
Where is the AI? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
It's as much a robot as a RC toy car.
However, take that awesome chassis and put it on a Basil [technovelgy.com] and you have a real robot bartender.
And not one that looks like a slow showpiece [youtube.com] for robotic arms and how not to display a face (on a low-grade industrial laptop screen.)
So give the drink elevators a bit more speed. The ice bin at the bottom is pretty much wasted space but then you'd need someplace for the AI anyway.
Do. You. Want. Some. More? (Score:1, Funny)
( too obscure? )
And here come the lawyers... (Score:1)
I suspect it's going to take all of five seconds for someone at Lucasfilm, Ltd. to send a cease & desist on the use of the name and any possible resemblance to the intellectual property of George Lucas. There are three groups of lawyer-happy folks in the movie business that are well known for having itchy legal fingers. They are Disney (the worst by far), the MPAA (go see what they do to folks who use Oscar statue likenesses), and Lucasfilm. All of Hollywood is ready to sue anybody anytime, but these
Old news! (Score:1)
Hardly a new thing (Score:2)
Robot bar tenders are the first thing any decent roboticist thinks of.
Here are:
* the Robomoji [today.com], a mojito maker
* a cocktail robot [flickr.com] from the 2007 Maker Faire
* this one complete with face [flickr.com] from Roboexotica 2007.
And here's [tasteofcuba.com] the original recipe for a Mojito.
How can the thing... (Score:2)
properly muddle the mint in my Mojito? That takes human hands and a human eye to know when it is just right. And yes I do prefer my drink made by a lovely bar tender with a nice smile and even nicer breasts comfortably cradled in a low cut top. Animation is great for a lot of things, but this is not one of them. FAIL!
Drinkbot (Score:2)
What is this "love"?
Re: (Score:2)
I was thinking/hoping it was a mobile barmonkey... (Score:2)
Tm
Re:I was thinking/hoping it was a mobile barmonkey (Score:1)
If just anyone could have it mix a drink for them, some way to pay, and even tip (I'd tip a robot, wouldn't you?), would be good.
Liquor isn't cheap!
I'd add a Kung Fu program . . . (Score:2)
it mixes it for them right there and hands it to them, then moves on.
Instead of just moving on, it could give a demo of "Drunken Monkey Form" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drunken_Monkey_Kung-Fu).
Encourage the guests to imitate the robot's moves, and stage competitions.
Now *that* would be cool.
Except that afterward, the location would probably be trashed, with all those fists smashing tables and chairs and stuff.
Cosmic Ray's..... (Score:3, Funny)
If it can't make me a decent Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster, then its a waste of money.
Re:Here's the deal (Score:4, Funny)
Parent
Re: (Score:2)