As the travel industry slowly recovers, the role of automation will increase, but few have received it as entertainingly as MSC Cruises. The 1,700-plus crew on board the cruise line’s flagship MSC Virtuosa includes Rob, the first humanoid robotic bartender at sea.
Rob, the robot bartender, can speak to guests in eight languages. His personality, seen through his conversation skills and his LED-capable face, adapts to the atmosphere.
Rob will be at home in the sci-fi-style MSC Starship Club bar. A sterile, spaceship-like motif dominates the room. The drinks lounge for all ages offers 3D holograms, an impressive digital art wall and a large communal table with a digital infinity display. With the “Vertical digital cockpit” touchscreens, guests can place their orders, which can then be adjusted according to their wishes. A ticker-style LED strip above the robot island and several digital monitors throughout the room show the status of beverage orders. The drinks are served in bespoke futuristic collector’s souvenir cups.
MSC claims The new Starship Club “uses the latest robotics and digital technologies to create a futuristic, immersive entertainment lounge in which the traditional bar experience is completely reinterpreted to transport guests into another world.” The bar is the culmination of almost six years of planning from MSC and includes contributions from leading experts in automation, robotics, digital experiences and interior design.
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While Rob is by far the most impressive, MSC Virtuosa will have cutting edge technology throughout. When cruise ships get bigger and guests’ tastes rise, cruise ships have turned to technology to ensure better and better service.
Rob is accompanied by a handful of robot crewmembers on other ships and attractions. The Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships contain the Bionic barwhere robotic end-effectors or “arms” mix drinks in a custom bar. Costa Cruises also tested Pepper, AvatarionThe humanoid robot from SoftBank Robotics. Pepper shares many of the same skills and autonomous capabilities as Rob, but Pepper was intended to be a concierge robot that can be operated by remote workers.
Disney recently started rolling out its own robotic staff with autonomy automated club cars Now available at selected local golf courses. Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort and Aloft Hotels An autonomous delivery machine called Relay was also tested: the robot can deliver snacks, drinks, toiletries or other small items directly to your hotel room. U & Me Revolving Hot Pot near the entrance to Disney World has hit with his robot waiter, designed to support their human counterparts. Guests are guided to their table by a robot, and selected foods are delivered to the table by various robots.
Automation was slow Increase in fast food Even restaurants with busier locations often resort to robotic options for basic routines like filling drinks or preparing fried food. Still, few robots have successfully fused the automation tasks with the conversational skills of robots like Rob and Pepper.
This friendly approach can eliminate some of the strictly practical features that many robots still demand. With labour costs Increasing health concerns and less human interactions seem inevitable.
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MSC takes a bold approach to automation, literally putting it in the middle of the room and putting it at the center. As seen at U & Me Revolving Hot Pot, where it’s not uncommon for diners to take photos of the robot’s waiters, automation remains a novelty, but as more places take it, it may not be the case for long. For MSC, the Starship Club’s science fiction theme may remain, but its signature gimmick could soon become another comfort on board.
The MSC Virtuosa was delivered to MSC earlier this month. The maiden voyage is currently scheduled to take place in the spring of this year.
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