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A Robotic Bartender, and How To Build One

Posted by timothy on 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.

66 comments

  1. OK. by chalkmarrow · · Score: 1

    Who's going to be the first to tag this "Bender"?

    1. Re:OK. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not Bender, but I remember a minor character from an episode of Futurama named "iZac".

    2. Re:OK. by Malevolyn · · Score: 1

      I went the high road and tagged it "flamingburp." I... guess that's the high road.

      --
      Your ad here.
    3. Re:OK. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I am amused, but the Bender Brewer has already beat this project to the punch.

      http://www.asciimation.co.nz/bender/

  2. O_O!!! by arrenlex · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Is this story's bar red for anyone else on the front page? It's freaking me out. Is the beer robot mad at me? :(

    1. Re:O_O!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is this story's bar red for anyone else on the front page?

      No, it's just for you.

  3. Code? by Mozk · · Score: 3, Insightful

    And there is completely nothing about the programming.

    --
    No existe.
    1. Re:Code? by Ellis+D.+Tripp · · Score: 3, 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.

      --
      Remember "News for Nerds, Stuff that Matters"? Help make it a reality again! http://soylentnews.org
    2. Re:Code? by wizbit · · Score: 3, Informative

      If you're looking for something to supplement your bar with the possibility of programming, there's always Bar Monkey...

    3. Re:Code? by sam0737 · · Score: 1

      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.

    4. Re:Code? by MousePotato · · Score: 1

      Hey that was pretty cool! Thanks for posting it :)

      --
      Prospecting Stinks. Stop Wasting Time on Cold Calling.
    5. Re:Code? by emag · · Score: 1

      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?

      --
      "The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule." --H.L. Mencken
    6. Re:Code? by ScreamingCactus · · 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?

      --
      The path to enlightenment is truly through homemade drugs!
    7. Re:Code? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I wouldn't say that it isn't a Robot. The idea that a 'robot' has to be intelligent is a pop-culture thing that I never really agreed with. Even though it's remote controlled it does need some instruction sets since you wouldn't have the number of buttons needed for every motor, servo and solenoid on a commercial remote. My guess is that they are on a PLC or a Lego Mindstorm box but I haven't looked at anything but the first page yet.

  4. But, can you train it to say: by gregbot9000 · · Score: 1

    Happy Birthday Paulie?

    1. Re:But, can you train it to say: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That made my entire day.

      Creepy part is, i was thinking of exactly that in my head while perusing these replies.

      Aaaaadriannnnnnnnnnn.

  5. The Fifth Element comes to mind... by Altima(BoB) · · Score: 1

    Yooouuu want some more? ...

    Yooouuu want some more?

    --
    Yup...
    1. Re:The Fifth Element comes to mind... by yo_tuco · · Score: 1

      lol, me too. That was a great scene.

  6. Oh I'll Be Building One by guyminuslife · · 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!"

    --
    I don't believe in time. It's a grand conspiracy designed to sell watches.
    1. Re:Oh I'll Be Building One by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Computer: tea: Earl Grey: hot."

  7. Instructions! Let me get on that right away. by dmomo · · Score: 3, Funny

    That's all there is to it? Now it looks SO easy. I'll have that knocked out by 8:00 tonight.

  8. Fertility God by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's nice to see the hot chick in the end getting close with her fertility god.

  9. I think Bender would say something like . . . by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 1

    . . . "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!"

    --
    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  10. Feh by Stele · · Score: 1

    BOTTLED beer.

  11. This won't work by tsa · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It doesn't have breasts, a nice smile and beautiful [fill in your favorite color] hair.

    --

    -- Cheers!

    1. Re:This won't work by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 5, Funny

      Just keep on drinking . . . it will . . . eventually . . .

      --
      Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
    2. Re:This won't work by SupremoMan · · Score: 1

      Damn you you just took my Karma meal ticket. I was so goign to post the same thing :)

    3. Re:This won't work by tsa · · Score: 1

      Oh yes! I can see it now!

      --

      -- Cheers!

    4. Re:This won't work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "It doesn't have breasts, a nice smile and beautiful [blue] hair."

      I think that's most people's favorite color.

    5. Re:This won't work by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 1

      It doesn't have muscles, chest hair and beautiful pitch black (why be PC about hair color when you forgot about sexual orientation?) hair.

    6. Re:This won't work by drsquare · · Score: 1

      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.

  12. My Kind of Party by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Did anyone else happen to catch the Zelda music in the background?

  13. Very nice design. by Animats · · Score: 2, Informative

    That is a nice piece of design. People like it.

    The MotoMan RoboBar 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".

  14. Re:Here's the deal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    maybe now they'll have to get off their lazy asses and get jobs

  15. Re:Here's the deal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Good thing the poor people have cable (with HBO) already.

    This is the U.S. you are talking about. Do you really think they watch broadcast? The only ones still watching OTA is because they choose to.

  16. Re:His Lordship Obama? by Anonymous Coward · · 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.

  17. Where is the AI? by rev_deaconballs · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This thing is all show and has no functionality. I am not sure how it is even called a robot. Sure it has mechanical parts but so does a car. Until you have an AI driver a car is just a car. If it needs to be remotely controlled than you need someone to stand 10 feet away instead of right next to it. As the video showed, it took way too long for one person to even get a drink. My guess is that people will use it once to say they used it then go to the real bar every other time.

    1. Re:Where is the AI? by waveclaw · · Score: 1

      It's as much a robot as a RC toy car.

      However, take that awesome chassis and put it on a Basil and you have a real robot bartender.

      And not one that looks like a slow showpiece for robotic arms and how not to display a face (on a low-grade industrial laptop screen.)

      As the video showed, it took way too long for one person to even get a drink.

      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.

      --

      "You cannot have a General Will unless you have shared experiences. You cannot be fair to people you don't know."
  18. Re:Here's the deal by Sebilrazen · · Score: 3, Funny

    The point of having karma to burn, and using that phrase when you expect to get down rated, is not posting anonymously.

    --
    "There are no facts, only interpretations." --Friedrich Nietzsche.
  19. Do. You. Want. Some. More? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    ( too obscure? )

  20. And here come the lawyers... by prisoner-of-enigma · · 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 three stand out of a crowd.

    --
    In the end they will lay their freedom at our feet and say to us, Make us your slaves, but feed us. - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
  21. Old news! by Zenne · · Score: 1

    What are you guys talking about? I've had a voice-controlled bartending R2 unit for /years/. http://www.hammacher.com/publish/75698.asp?promo=xsells# One of his compartments opens to reveal a can-holding device!

  22. No, but by WindBourne · · Score: 1

    you do not regret it, either next day, or later in life.

    --
    I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
  23. Hardly a new thing by David+Gerard · · Score: 1

    Robot bar tenders are the first thing any decent roboticist thinks of.

    Here are:

    * the Robomoji, a mojito maker
    * a cocktail robot from the 2007 Maker Faire
    * this one complete with face from Roboexotica 2007.

    And here's the original recipe for a Mojito.

    --
    http://rocknerd.co.uk
  24. How can the thing... by FlyingGuy · · Score: 1

    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!

    --
    Hey KID! Yeah you, get the fuck off my lawn!
    1. Re:How can the thing... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Liar. There is no crossover between guys who like mojitos and guys who like girls.

  25. WTF by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Dude this article is about a ROBOTIC BARTENDER
    Not whatever pops into the mind of some AC with the attention span of a Meth addicted Ferret.
    If you cant keep up with the conversation go someplace safer for your mental LVL ...Like AOL

  26. My Appologies... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I would like to say How terribly sorry I am to be so insensitive. If you have a Meth addictive Ferret I did not mean to offend you or offend the ferret by the above comparison.

  27. From the builder of BaR2D2 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Thanks for some of the compliments.

    To add some detail - Nowhere along this journey did I want to make an autonomous bartender. The whole point was to make the ultimate party machine that I could take with me to parties/cons/tailgates. It was designed as mechanical art and was never meant to be AI. It is awesome at parties (see video) and the ladies LOVE BaR2 - note the hot dancing hula hoop girl at the end of the video.

    BUT, for those who wish it had programming, take a look at the last step in the instructable...as we speak, the upgraded liquor system is being built and should be ready in the next month. It will use a mini laptop with bluetooth to beam drink orders from a drink database to BaR2D2. BaR2 will be able to mix those drinks.

    I hope some of you can appreciate a nice piece of art that took a lot of time to make and people enjoy seeing. :)

    Jamie

  28. First thing I thought of... by spartacus_prime · · Score: 0

    This droid.

    --
    If you can read this, it means that I bothered to log in.
  29. Drinkbot by global_diffusion · · Score: 1

    What is this "love"?

    1. Re:Drinkbot by Jaseoldboss · · Score: 1

      It's the secret ingredient in Love in the South Pacific of course Johnny Johnny.

  30. I was thinking/hoping it was a mobile barmonkey... by Tmack · · Score: 1
    No Bar Monkey inside???

    ...with a little speech recognition software, it would be awesome! Wheel autonomously around a party, someone calls it over and tells it what they want, it mixes it for them right there and hands it to them, then moves on.

    Tm

    --
    Support TBI Research: http://www.raisinhope.org
  31. Re:I was thinking/hoping it was a mobile barmonkey by ITEric · · 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!

    --
    The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' but 'That's funny...
  32. Or..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Osama Beer Laden

  33. DragonCon Geeks drooled at the Robot... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...even though it was slow at lifting beers...didnt really mix any drinks...only had 6 shots, and space for as many cans below...
    However, any actual men present were more impressed with Jamies smoking hot wife: Trully a HOT real Woman! She is "fully functional" and could easily out perform the above in any duty she desired! ...and Bar2Dee2 Version 2.0 wont come close to her awesomness either!
    Um-K

  34. Cosmic Ray's..... by IHC+Navistar · · Score: 2, Funny

    If it can't make me a decent Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster, then its a waste of money.

    --
    Knowing Google's lust for data collection, the Soviet Union is still alive and well inside the psyche of Sergey Brin....
  35. I'd add a Kung Fu program . . . by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 1

    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.

    --
    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  36. This is soooo lame. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I can't even believe i am commenting on this fucking motorized trash can. seriously does anyone give a shit? this thing is soooo lame, the only people that must like this are like the ones in the video, sorry to be so judgemental but they sound like drunk trailer park trash "ooohhhhhh woooowwww look at it push that beer up" seriously this thing is such a waste of time, who cares? it doesnt do a god damn thing!!!!! literally my dog is a better bartender then that light flashing ice box on wheels.

    1. Re:This is soooo lame. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What upsets you more...the fact you never get invited to parties? or that you have to attend them via the internet?

      Have you ever seen a vagina?

      This dude put a lot of work into that creation. Do a google on bar2d2...i bet more hits come up than if we type in your name. loser.

      b.

  37. Re:Here's the deal by BertieBaggio · · Score: 1

    And, you know, posting in the right discussion.

    --
    If all you have is a grenade, pretty soon every problem looks like a foxhole -- MightyYar
  38. Oblig. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I, for one, welcome our robotic alcohol-serving overlords!

  39. and I'll take the low road. by kriebz · · Score: 1

    It's not always a burp.