SoftBank brings food service robot to labour-strapped Japan

Tokyo

SoftBank’s robotics arm said yesterday it will bring a food service robot developed by California-based Bear Robotics to Japan as restaurants grapple with labor shortages and a new socially distanced norm as a result of the novel coronavirus. The robot named Servi will act as a sort of waiter, using its layers of trays to carry food and drinks and its 3D cameras and Lidar sensors to navigate between kitchen and tables.

Service will be launched in Japan in January and will cost 99,800 yen ($950) per month excluding tax on a three-year plan, SoftBank Group Corp said. The start-up first showed a prototype to Softbank chief executive Masayoshi Son last year and SoftBank led a $32 million round of investment in the startup in January.

The launch leverages SoftBank’s long experience in bringing overseas technology to Japan but reflects the shift away from Son’s earlier focus on humanoid robots. Servi has been tested by Japanese restaurant operators, including Seven & i Holdings at its Denny’s chain, as the sector grapples with an aging workforce and deepening labor shortages.

The launch comes as companies are scrambling to employ technology to offer contactless service and ensure social distancing. SoftBank’s humanoid Pepper robot became the face of the company following its 2014 unveiling but failed to find a global customer base.