Fed up of queueing for a beer? Meet the robot barman
IT was such a hot day and the Diary was dying for an ice cold beer. But have you noticed how long it takes to get served at a bar?
The average person has to wait 15 minutes according to one survey but Kiwi Aaron Rudd knows where you can get a glass of amber nectar in two minutes flat.
You see he's got this barman mate, Mr Asahi, the world's first bespoke robotic barman, who can open a bottle and pour a drink while winking at you with his flashing LED eyes.
You might have caught sight of him in the trendy bars off West Street at the weekend, advertising a well-known brand of Japanese beer, on his national tour.
The Diary met him outside Asda at Handsworth, serving drinks to an appreciative crowd.
But because of new laws the strongest tipple he could offer in a supermarket was water.
Looking as if his grand daddy had been one of the robots in the famous Cadbury's Smash TV commercial, Mr Asahi, was showing just how it was done by filling up 'sip samplers' on a revolving bar and half pint glasses with H20 from a beer dispenser.
"He can talk as well," says Aaron, proudly, for he is brand development manager for Asahi beer.
Really? Answer questions? "Well no but he does talk in a robotic way," says Aaaron.
As if on cure Mr Asahi cackles electronically: "What a beautiful day it is today in Sheffield." But that was technician Matt Hanlon speaking via a mIcrophone through an "integrated vocal speaker system."
For the techies out there the Anglo-Japanese robot (head made in Japan, compressed air controlled arms in the UK) can perform 60 repeatable functions in a minute.
Made from car parts, he weighs a quarter of a ton, never needs a loo break and doesn't chat up the female customers unless Matt is feeling frisky.
"Could this be the beginning of the end of the human barman?" asks the press release.
Phil Mitchell and Al Murray needn't have any worries on that score.
Our photographer decides the shot needs a bit of glamour. We rope in blonde promotions girl Josephine Laurence. Is this the first time she's been served by a robot?
"I don't think so," she says, rolling her eyes.
Wait one moment, Josephine, what the snapper wants is a picture of Mr Asahi taking the top of a bottle of beer.
OK, says Matt, but Mr Asahi is programmed to only do one thing at a time. He gets out his screwdrivers and Allen keys to twiddle a few thingummybobs on the whatsits so the robot will know it's holding a bottle not a glass.
And how long will that take Matt? "About 15 minutes," he says.
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 23 May 2012
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Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
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