SoftBank unveils food service robot to reduce COVID-19 infection risk

SoftBank Group Corp.'s robot making unit on Monday unveiled its new food service robot in a move designed to reduce the risk of coronavirus infections between staff and customers at restaurants and other eateries. SoftBank Robotics Group Corp. said it will start renting out its Servi robot, which can automatically deliver meals and drinks from the kitchen to tables at eateries, in January. The company said it expects orders from not only restaurants but also hospitals, retailers and hotels. The 1-meter-high column-shaped robot, co-developed with California-based Bear Robotics Inc., can carry a load of up to 35 kilograms at a time. It figures out where it needs to go using artificial intelligence.