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Koolio, the Beer Delivery Robot

Ipingforpong writes "Recently a University of Florida engineering student named Brian Pietrodangelo built a mini fridge named Koolio that when you place an order through the website, will deliver a cold soda, beer, or various candy to you. Right now it's only available in one building at University of Florida but soon it could catch on in office buildings and other places."

76 of 325 comments (clear)

  1. Great, just what geeks need.... by r_glen · · Score: 5, Funny

    Another excuse to avoid women

    1. Re:Great, just what geeks need.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      But can she run Linux?

  2. I wonder by Tablizer · · Score: 4, Funny

    does it clean up the barf also?

    1. Re:I wonder by prescot6 · · Score: 5, Funny

      does it clean up the barf also?

      Guy 1: Where were you last night? I tried to call you.
      Guy 2: Dude, I was just hanging out by myself and up comes Koolio. And you know how he's always all "hey, you probably want a beer, don't you?" Well, to make a long story short, I woke up naked on the floor and Koolio was next to me wearing my shirt...

  3. Wives? by Xeed · · Score: 5, Funny

    Instead of missing that knock out punch Koolio could deliver you, and all your friends, beer all night long. You have this luxury 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Find a human to do that.

    Wait... I thought that's what wives are for
    I'm really starting to consider marrying my computer...

    --
    ...don't question it!!!
    1. Re:Wives? by xactoguy · · Score: 5, Funny

      Damnit! Where's the +1 Flamebait option! ;)

      --


      And so we go, on with our lives
      We know the truth, but prefer lies
      Lies are simple, simple is bliss
    2. Re:Wives? by r_j_prahad · · Score: 4, Funny

      Wait... I thought that's what wives are for.

      Like you, that's also what I thought. I was gravely mistaken, however, and I have been generously educated to realize just exactly how menial and demeaning such a task would be for one's beloved spouse.

      By the way, anybody know how to get a police whistle out of a rectum?

  4. Oh boy.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    that's gotta be one hot piece of hardware. I'd bet it'd be hard to keep thieves at bay.

    1. Re:Oh boy.. by LostCluster · · Score: 5, Insightful

      that's gotta be one hot piece of hardware. I'd bet it'd be hard to keep thieves at bay.

      This thing would never survive in a dorm environment. The payload will always be stolen, and it'd be constantly knocked over by people who just want to be jerks.

      However it might work just fine within a "friendly" office environment...

    2. Re:Oh boy.. by Saeger · · Score: 4, Funny
      Well, I can think of one cheap way to keep the delivery robot safe: Start a "respect the beerbot" meme. People might kick the shit out of a regular vending machine, but they'd quickly learn not to mess with the sacred beerbot (as long as it never fails to deliver what was promised).

      Other methods to keep the beerbot safe:

      1. Give it a live webcam to shame vandals (if they have any shame that is).
      2. Give it a GPS locator.
      3. Make it shriek in a loud female voice if abused...

      --
      --
      Power to the Peaceful
    3. Re:Oh boy.. by The+Evil+Couch · · Score: 2, Interesting
      that'd have to be one hell of a locking mechanism. I've seen quarter inch steel hasps broken off of doors before, all for the sake of some asshole stealing the knob off of a dryer.

      who knows what kind of super-human feats of vandalizm would be accomplished if cold beer was the reward.

    4. Re:Oh boy.. by evilWurst · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "Make it shriek in a loud female voice if abused..."

      Most of my friends would feel compelled to abuse it at least once, then, just to hear it.

  5. ugh.. by js3 · · Score: 5, Funny

    for a second there I thought koolio was a beer drinking robot..

    --
    did you forget to take your meds?
    1. Re:ugh.. by mrseigen · · Score: 4, Funny

      Finally, something we humans can beat machines at! Once their cast-iron insides are eroded by cheap beer, we'll hop into our expensive SUVs and slaughter innocent pedestrians in a drunken victory lap.

      Oh wait...

    2. Re:ugh.. by beerits · · Score: 2

      Finally, something we humans can beat machines at!

      I think he might pose a challenge.

    3. Re:ugh.. by Chris+Tucker · · Score: 4, Funny

      "for a second there I thought koolio was a beer drinking robot.."

      You're thinking of Bender.

      Ah... Bender! A role model for all robots to come!

      First Law: A Bender unit shall disregard all orders given it by a human.

      Second Law: A Bender shall protect it's own existance, even at the cost of human life. Don't forget to loot the corpse(s) afterwards!

      Third Law: If it's not nailed down, it's mine! If it's nailed down and I can bend the nails, it's no longer nailed down and it's mine!

      Forth Law; "Kiss my shiny metal ass, meatsack!"

      --
      Guaranteed! This comment 100% Anthrax free!
  6. Bout bloody time..... by NarrMaster · · Score: 5, Funny

    Forget defusing bombs and finding victims buried in rubble.... This robot is damn useful with real world potential!

    --
    That's right. All your base.
  7. I can't wait... by dulles · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...until someone hacks it and they catch it wandering down the interstate towards my college.

  8. So, how much did it really cost? by LostCluster · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You can tell these kids are going to make it in the business world...

    He provides no source nor price for such key components as Sonar, LCD, IR detectors, Motors, and Wheels. You can almost hear the future bean counter cutting them a check for $260 for this project and laughing.

    1. Re:So, how much did it really cost? by _Sprocket_ · · Score: 2, Funny


      You can almost hear the future bean counter cutting them a check for $260 for this project and laughing.


      $260?! Hell. You order a soda and get a free robot with it.
  9. If only... by hillg3 · · Score: 5, Funny

    But what happens when there is no beer in the fridge? Is it going to roll its ass down to the 7-11 and pick up a six pack and restock itself?

    1. Re:If only... by deathazre · · Score: 2, Funny

      and a more important question... how the heck do you card a robot?

      --
      Karma: Negative (Mostly affected by dorm trolling)
    2. Re:If only... by noidentity · · Score: 2, Funny

      "and a more important question... how the heck do you card a robot?"

      And if you manage to get to them, which card do you check?

  10. Koolio eh? by aarku · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nice, but does it play Gangsta's Paradise while roaming around the hood of your range vent?

    1. Re:Koolio eh? by DarrylKegger · · Score: 5, Funny

      Been spending most my life,
      delivering geeks' drinks on ice...

  11. Reminds me of cookiesnmilk.net by dTaylorSingletary · · Score: 5, Interesting

    When I was going to college in San Francisco, I lived in the dorms and right around that time (1998) cookiesnmilk.net opened, targeted at us more lit folk as a solution to midnight snacking needs. It was great-- warm, delicious cookies delivered to your door with cold milk. Gradually the company had the mistaken notion they could make bigger money by catering to the office crowd. Never heard of them after a certain point, their website is no longer. Oh well. Keep with the college kiddies.

    Here is some evidence of their existence. I have a photograph with a delivery person that is an utter classic.

    --
    d. Taylor Singletary,
    reality technician techra.el
  12. Re:Thats nice but... by LostCluster · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The images on the home page actually made me think that this bot was more advanced than it really is...

    Instead of having an on-board fridge... why not send it down to in-building vending machine, where it completes the transaction against the student's account, and then grabs the item and take it where it needs to go for delivery.

    That'd give it a much wider inventory and an ability to serve a wider audience than just one person.

  13. Yeah, but can it sing 'gangstas paradise'? by spamster · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now if we could just set it up with speakers, mp3 player and a little disco ball......

  14. Okay... by c4Ff3In3+4ddiC+ · · Score: 3, Funny
    My address is
    1949 E Camelback Rd
    Phoenix, AZ 85016
    Please have been delivered by 12PM tomorrow. Thanks!
    --
    *twitch*
    1. Re:Okay... by AbbyNormal · · Score: 2, Funny

      I dunno about the beer, but I'm sure your gonna have a lot odder things delivered.

      Slightly off-topic, but still funny.

      The funniest prank I remember, was when my friend rented a room in an old ladies house. While my friend was at school, the old lady would deliver his mail to his room daily. While cruising around internet, I found a bunch of "Freebie" sites that would allow you to sign up for some free samples.

      Needless the say the old lady was rather confused when a items such as "Female Condoms", "Hair receeding remedies", "pregnancy tests", "panythouse" and "energy" bars began showing up in the mail for him. My friend was not amused.

      --
      Sig it.
  15. Not New by AyeFly · · Score: 5, Informative

    Hospitals have been using robots similar to this for years, check out these two links...
    http://marc.med.virginia.edu/projects_pi candplace. html

    http://www.virginia.edu/insideuva/1999/39/automa ti on.html

    However, I dont think you would want to mix up the fridge robot with one of these by accident, HEY! thats not Cherry Coke, its blood!

    --
    Sig- http://www.dreamhost.com/rewards.cgi?ayefly
  16. Yes but... by FattMattP · · Score: 5, Funny

    will it say "Bede bede bede..." when it hands you the beer?

    --
    Prevent email address forgery. Publish SPF records for y
  17. This give a whole new meaning to... by TimeForGuinness · · Score: 5, Funny

    Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto!

  18. This is a convenience? by OmegaGeek · · Score: 5, Insightful

    From the description:

    "Imagine watching a movie with someone and you get thirsty. It is an inconvenience to everyone watching the movie to stop the movie, but at the same time you don't want to miss anything important. Koolio could solve your problem."

    Right. So instead of taking 30 seconds to get to the fridge and back, I'll pull out my laptop, login to the robot control server, place my order, then wait for the bot to get my drink to me; at best this takes 2 minutes

    Its a cool idea, I'll admit, but maybe not the most practical. Especially since when I launch my browser to login to the robot server, my home page is /. and it takes me 20 minutes to read and comment on new stories. Now, where was that work I actually meant to be doing right now...

    --
    Even heroes have the right to dream
    1. Re:This is a convenience? by vidnet · · Score: 2, Informative

      Where's your geekness? A wml cgi script on apache that calls wget to place your order; whip up your cell phone and wap yourself a coke.

  19. What if.... by ReflectingGod · · Score: 5, Funny
    Imagine watching a movie with someone and you get thirsty. It is an inconvenience to everyone watching the movie to stop the movie, but at the same time you don't want to miss anything important. Koolio could solve your problem.

    But what when, having drunk that beer, you really gotta piss, what's Koolio gonna do for ya then, can it help with that as well?

  20. Great! by ImTwoSlick · · Score: 5, Funny
    Koolio is a traveling autonomous refrigerator robot -- Picture a cross between R2D2 and a vending machine.

    Now he's gonna get sued by both Coolio AND Lucas.

  21. Can it restock itself by WhatsAProGingrass · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This robot doesn't look like it can hold a lot of beer. It would be cool if this robot could restock itself and rotate the cold beers to the front and the warm ones to the back. Anyone know anything about the robot from the Rocky 4 movie? Are their such things in the making?

    --
    Mark
  22. I call VAPORWARE! by LostCluster · · Score: 4, Interesting

    See, this document reveals that although this project is ahead of schedule, the prototype won't even be done until August. :)

  23. I hope not by dj245 · · Score: 4, Funny
    Right now I know my alcohol limit when I am unable to forage for beer. This includes making beer runs, and/or voyaging to other dorm rooms in search of beer. But if a robot brought the beer, then when would the party end?

    Not only that, but foraging for beer is fun. Think of it as a group activity that builds teamwork, and makes long lasting friends. Having a robot might be neat for a while, but half the fun of beer is getting it. It is a quest... The quest... for the Holy Beer!

    --
    Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress at this period in history.
  24. Slashdot a fridge? by dj245 · · Score: 5, Funny
    It is very curious that there is an option of that page to "place an order". It is not responding. So either:

    A. The server only takes orders from on-campus ips.
    B. The robot is turned off for the night.
    C. We have just slashdotted a Refrigerator.

    --
    Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress at this period in history.
  25. You can laugh... by mfh · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... but there is plenty of data regarding how females actually destroy the geniuses they encounter by becoming demanding, selfish and annoying enough to trigger deep bouts of depression, and even suicide. When geeks find a really special woman, they still have to avoid *other* women, so there's no change there, really (meaning: it's good to avoid women, and practice that because it keeps you honest).

    What we need is a robot that delivers women! (women who are genetically altered to be quiet, compassionate and understanding of what it is to be geeks; or at the very least, cool enough to chill when papa's coding)

    --
    The dangers of knowledge trigger emotional distress in human beings.
    1. Re:You can laugh... by Phenris+Wolfe · · Score: 5, Insightful

      That happens because the geek approaches the situation from a scarcity mentality. A woman can't do that to you if you're willing/able to walk away if it gets to be too much crap.

      That being said, it took me a long time to figure that out, so I can understand the depression thing as well.

    2. Re:You can laugh... by The+Evil+Couch · · Score: 2, Troll
      ... but there is plenty of data regarding how females actually destroy the geniuses they encounter by becoming demanding, selfish and annoying enough to trigger deep bouts of depression, and even suicide.

      which might be why Alan Turing was gay and dated other mathematicians.

      then again, he was driven to suicide, too, so the problem may not rest with women, but just how geeks handle relationships in general.

    3. Re:You can laugh... by hachete · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I thought Alan Turing committed suicide as a result of being hounded by the security services and the general witch-hunts of that era.

      h

      --
      Patriotism is a virtue of the vicious
    4. Re:You can laugh... by Profane+MuthaFucka · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Another thing: the economic theory of pussy explains why in most places, the pussy cartel dislikes and even shuns pussy suppliers that provide pussy at discount rates, or even give out samples like it's Saturday morning at Sam's club. They resort to mean tactics like calling the alternate suppliers "sluts".

      --
      Fascism trolls keeping me up every night. When I starts a preachin', he HITS ME WITH HIS REICH!
    5. Re:You can laugh... by Profane+MuthaFucka · · Score: 2, Funny

      Presumably, pussy parity has been acheived not only in quantity, but in quality as well. For every undesirable pussy out there, there's an undesirable pecker out there.

      The only reason that pussy is artificially scarce is because of good marketing, tight control of supply, and ruthless protection of the monopoly by the pussy cartel (i.e. Wimmin)

      --
      Fascism trolls keeping me up every night. When I starts a preachin', he HITS ME WITH HIS REICH!
    6. Re:You can laugh... by phorm · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Ah, and the trick is that really - unless you meet *the one* the first time around - getting dumped is actually a productive thing. After getting dumped a few times, and finding new relationships, you realize that you won't be doomed to singularity if you in turn do the dumping of less desirable females.

      Although the .com has burst, many geeks still make a decent wage. There are women/men that will attach themselves to said geek like a parasite... you know the type: expensive gifts/movies/dinner/etc/etc

      The problem is that many geeks don't really hit the dating scene until a bit later, at which point they're either bitter about relationships or (as you mentioned) feeling a need to "hang on" because singularity becomes a frightening prospect.

      And of course, the women/men whom have had trashy relationships with the school jock/cheerleader end up looking for a decent guy after that initial period (those that don't drop out, get married, get pregnant, etc). After they clue in... suddenly geeks don't look so bad - exempting the bad BO geeks as opposed to the lesser-body-tone-social-skills variety...


      I guess the advice is, rather than being depressed or getting too attached to a bad relationship, realize that as live goes on relationships for the successful/respectful type of person become easier. Eventually Suzy will find better qualifications for a man than a Porche-911 and a 6-pack... keep up your appearance and wait for her.

  26. Almost got to see it in action by m3000 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm a Junior at UF, and I took a graduate class in robotics this semester, and I've seen the robot a few times sitting at it's docking station in one of the rooms on the 3rd floor of Benton. It was also supposed to be demonstrated at this semester's demo day for our class (even though it wasn't part of the class, they just like to show what all the robots that the Machine Intelligence Lab is working on) but it had broken the night before. It does look pretty impressive in real life though just sitting there, but I wish I could report back how it acted in person.

    1. Re:Almost got to see it in action by dundee256 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yeah we didn't make the demo because we were up all night before preparing for a TV interview. Koolio wasn't broken. I always have a backup on hand of the last stable code for demos. Just when modifying code he can do some unexpected things, until you work the bugs out.

  27. Hmmm, mix in a little artificial intelligence and by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny


    I'm sorry Dave but I can't do that. You're a little fat to be drinking soda Dave.

  28. Why this rules... by azav · · Score: 3, Funny

    From the web page:

    "It locates room 326 and delivers Dr. Nechyba his Diet Coke thus averting disaster."

    He would have gotten away with it if it weren't for those meddling kids!

    --
    - Zav - Imagine a Beowulf cluster of insensitive clods...
  29. Re:Chug-a-lug by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    are you normally an asshole, or just play one on slashdot.

  30. Exercise by Luciq · · Score: 4, Funny

    Though Koolio is pretty darn cool, I wouldn't want one around the office. I like having an excuse to get up and walk to the other end of the building now and then (getting my own coffee, thank you).

    All we need now is a "Shtoolio" waste collection robot and I won't have any excuses to get up at all!

    1. Re:Exercise by noidentity · · Score: 2, Funny

      "All we need now is a "Shtoolio" waste collection robot and I won't have any excuses to get up at all!"

      Those already exist, and they are even shaped like a chair so you can sit on them.

  31. Once the tech gets cheap enough... by marko123 · · Score: 3, Informative

    In Australia, we already have it...

    --
    http://pcblues.com - Digits and Wood
  32. Re:This is cool by swfranklin · · Score: 3, Insightful
    if it can climb the staris to my front door ...
    Would be kind of cool to build this on a Segway chassis... it wouldn't be able to handle stairs, but at least some decent inclines and uneven terrain.
  33. TCP DOS ATTACKS KNOCK OUT BEER DELIVERY WORLDWIDE by FaerieBoy · · Score: 5, Funny

    now bob has to get up off his ass and walk to the refrigerator. now THAT would be tragic.

    --
    All your preview button are belong to hello kitty.
  34. Big deal! by dawg+ball · · Score: 2, Funny

    I've also invented a bot! Not only does it fetch my beer but it also cooks and gives me sex. I call it the Work On My Animalistic Needs bot, or WOMAN for short.

    1. Re:Big deal! by tuxedobob · · Score: 3, Funny

      I got one of those too. It's supposed to be one of the higher end models, but it's not doing any of that! I even have the dongle installed on its finger!

      Apparently you're supposed to get another dongle and have it installed in front of witnesses. Seems the first one is just for show.

  35. Intelligent Machines Design Laboratory by Niten · · Score: 2, Informative

    Koolio was conceived as part of the Intelligent Machines Design Laboratory, a graduate-level class here at the University of Florida in which students spend an entire semester developing their own robots to perform various tasks. The IMDL just had a media expo a couple of days back, and you can find more pictures and information about Koolio and the other robots at the following address:

    http://www.mil.ufl.edu/imdl/

    Mark

  36. The order site is down. by zaba · · Score: 2, Funny

    Damn you, slashdotters! Damn you, all!

  37. Don't even need to get up? by mi · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'd rather this thing made you chase it for some time -- to force some excercise. Soda is bad enough for you even when you have to walk to take it...

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
  38. Robots taking over... ahh by teklob · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This robot will bring you beer the one from a few weeks ago will drive you home when you are drunk all we need now is a robot that will let you pee into it all night and clean up after you and your friends the next morning

  39. The conundrum by Teahouse · · Score: 3, Funny

    The problem is that I STILL have to stock Koolio. What's worse is that I STILL have to go to the store and buy the cases of beverages to LOAD in Koolio. Finally, Koolio can not take a crap or urinate FOR me. I am really dissappointed. Where has good ol' American innovation gone? Why am I still required to wear clothing, bathe, and work? Koolio simply doesn't fit in to my busy sloth-like lifestyle yet. Back to the drawing boards guys.

    --
    "Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect."- Steven Wright
  40. Am I the only one... by geminidomino · · Score: 2, Informative

    that found it side-splittingly hilarious that the "Gangsta's Paradise" artist decided to call himself "Coolio"? That humor is reborn today with this article.

    "Cuolo" in Italian is not something one generally wants to be associated with. I beleive Spanish has a not-too-distant equivalent.

  41. down sides by Tablizer · · Score: 3, Funny

    No, you stupid robot! You are supposed to give it to *me*, not drink it yourself. And stop that disco shit, will ya?

  42. Why dont they get it to do something really useful by Napoleon+Blownapart · · Score: 3, Funny

    Like trawl the neighbourhood bars until it can find some cheerleaders to smuggle back your room

  43. I'm sure we can deliver an inflatable by wadiwood · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm sure we can deliver an inflatable woman with the beer. The right robot could probably even inflate her for you. And we'll throw in a free pizza while we're at it. After all, we wouldn't want an idiot like you out on the streets. (Shut up papa, mamma is coding)

    --

    -- it must be true, it's on the internet.
  44. Koolio? The Rapping beerbot? by ducklord · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think I can see it coming... Hey, Koolio: Bring me some Vanilla Ice..!

  45. Similar Project by miketang16 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The Computer Science House at Rochester Institute of Technology has built 2 networked soda machines, and is currently working on building a robot that delivers the soda to the rooms. I'd like to actually see this U of F robot in action, because one of the problems RIT is having is difficulties avoiding hazards, like people...

    --
    -------
    "In times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."
    -- George Orwell
  46. As someone developing a robot... by TomorrowPlusX · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Well, as an amateur, spending my evenings and weekends over the last two years trying to develop a robot ( my first one was a disaster, but my current one has much promise ), whenever I talk to someone about it the first question they ask is "you mean like in battlebots?"

    My response is always "I'm not making it for fighting, and if I did, it would get its shiny aluminum ass stomped" ( my robots are legged, and therefore somewhat slow ).

    So... they think for a few seconds and ask "will it bring you beer?"

    "Maybe someday" I respond.

    It's kind of depressing. Here I am trying to make something interesting -- I'm doing private research into behavioral / automata brain design. I firmly believe I can make something as agile and graceful as a cat, or at the very least a retarded cat. But so far I haven't delved into image processing or even goal oriented behavior except for "follow the heat signature". But I think it's wonderful stuff anyway.

    Yet people only care about wether its a battlebot or a beerbot.

    Fie on them all.

    --

    lorem ipsum, dolor sit amet
  47. Beer-fetching robots have existed for years!! by Conspir8or · · Score: 2, Funny

    In the common tongue, they are called "teaching assistants."

  48. Replace step 3 by phorm · · Score: 2, Funny

    Make it yell out in an effeminate male voice when abuse:

    "Stop that, oooh, you bad boy. That's very naughty of you"

    You can embarrass any would be aggressors enough so that the will leave beerbot alone then.

  49. I want to weld a tow hook on it by bl8n8r · · Score: 2, Funny

    So it can drag me off the floor when I pass out.

    --
    boycott slashdot February 10th - 17th check out: altSlashdot.org
  50. The next logical step: by huntybunz · · Score: 3, Funny

    Too many beers from your robot fridge? Time to call in the robot urinal! Never leave your couch again! Hooray for bedsores!