While experts debate about the dangers of developing killer robots, one hardworking bot is serving out cones of ice cream to Japanese customers with a smile.
Japanese Twitter user Tora Steve (とら(Steve) @torachitech2) uploaded a video of the robot as it twirled out a cone of soft-serve ice cream, or “soft cream” as the Japanese call it.
会社にいるアイスクリームロボット。100円でソフトクリーム🍦作ってくれる😋
An ice cream-serving robot pic.twitter.com/N4ldjYiS17
— Steve Kasuya (@SteveKasuya2) August 24, 2017
It appears the robot is stuck inside a booth and will only activate after slotting in a 100 yen (roughly P46) coin. It’s somewhat similar to a vending machine, save for the glass window and the smiling white head looking through it.
According to SoraNews24, the robot is called Yasakawa-kun and is made by Japanese engineering company Yasakawa which specializes in robotics.
The company even created a promotional video for Yasakawa-kun when it was first introduced a few years back. It appears Yasakawa-kun was meant to look approachable to humans through its customizable “head.”
While having a robot serve ice cream may seem pretty cool, the downside is people won’t be able to get an extra swirl by asking nicely. Maybe Yasakawa engineering can program some negotiation algorithm into Yasakawa-kun next time. JB
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