Robotic bartender technology case study

Automation continues to transform and innovate the food and beverage industry. Manufacturers are turning to robotics and automation to not only enhance the customer experience but to also improve efficiency within production.

This case study explores how a bartender robot utilises linear bearing technology to achieve smooth operation, precision and reliable, constant movement without interruption.

By combining polymer bearings with a compact mechanical design, the system delivers reliable drink preparation, while reducing maintenance requirements.

The the idea behind Barobot, which was developed by the two founders of the start-up of the same name, Konrad Klepacki and Artur Formella; A robot that replaces the bartender at a house party. The vending machine can independently produce 1000 cocktails from 12 bottles.

Requirements

The selection of drinks are made via a touchscreen, then the Barobot moves the glass under the corresponding bottles and mixes the liquids in the correct proportions to create the desired drink. With a special app for tablets and smartphones, you can also select your favourite drinks remotely or create your own concoctions. The company needed a bearing for the sled that moves the cocktail glass to the bottle on a sliding shaft. The product needed to be food-compliant, quiet, offer the lowest possible clearance and cost-effective.

The challenge

The Barobot consists of 6mm and 10mm thick laser-cut acrylic glass panels, available in transparent or black. The developers opted for this material because it is both economically and visually appealing. For the carriage, which slides on a steel rod to move the glass to the bottles, they were looking for a bearing with as little clearance as possible that was quiet, food-safe and cost-effective. The first attempt was made with traditional metal ball bearings that slide over the steel rods. But at the speeds at which the glass moves between the bottles, the noise level was completely unacceptable. There were also concerns about food safety.

The solution

The perfect solution was found, both financially and technically: two drylin linear spherical insert bearings in 6 and 12mm widths ensure that the carriage is absolutely strong and can move freely at the same time. With them, the clearance and sliding noise could be reduced to a minimum. The bearings are lightweight, easy to fit and cost-effective, and are also completely free of external lubricants. This makes them ideal for use in the food sector and they do not require any maintenance.

Examples of robots in similar production applications

Robots in chocolate production

When high-quality product deserves a high-quality presentation, automation is a cool way of aiding this. Roose Automation has developed the ChocoMatic which is a modern display system for the finest chocolates. This also includes an appealing vending machine function.
The robot packs the customer's individual selection of chocolates and turns it into a special shopping experience.

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Let's bake a cake!

In the bakery industry, there is high cost pressure combined with the challenge of attracting employees to this sector.
This is where automation can be part of the solution. Cost-effective and simple robotic solutions support bakeries in the production of their goods and at the same time ensure a sufficiently economical overall situation.

This application showcases the robot assisting in the dough making process.

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Robot Barista

The increase in people buying coffee from coffee shops is insane. Preparing customised coffee beverages traditionally required skilled baristas and operational effort. However, today, robotic automation can deliver the same consistency and precision as a Barista. Thanks to the fact that robotic systems are capable of continuous 24/7 operation, this makes them suited for high-demand or unattended environments such as airports, service stations, office buildings and unmanned vending locations.

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