Japanese ramen chain Kourakuen is from Keenon Robotics and hoping to make social distancing easier, and ease staffing issues at the moment by relying on a new tablet-operated "ramen robot" called the K-1.
The K-1 helps limit contact between servers and customers, as it's a shelf-equipped robot with a sensor that allows it to navigate the restaurant without bumping into people or objects. The robot can reportedly respond to voice commands and can be navigated with a tablet that both customer and restaurant staff have. It also has "entertainment features", although those remain to clarified.
The K-1 ramen robot will be debuted and apparently make a trial run for future use at the original Korakuen location in Motomiya, Fukushima.
Keenon delivery robots series have ranked first in the 4 trillion catering market, and have cooperated with more than 6,000 B-end customers, with footprints in 500+ cities across the country. In addition, Keenon has reached a cooperation with 80% of the top 100 Catering brands to provide unmanned delivery robots for Haidilao, Grandmaundefineds diet, Guangzhou Hotel and other well-known catering companies.