TOKYO — Businesses in Japan and other Asian countries are using more robots and machines than ever to replace and reduce human contact as the COVID-19 pandemic lingers.
Japanese restaurant chain Watami is one such business, having introduced service robots in October on a trial basis in its newly opened BBQ chain Yakiniku no Watami in Tokyo and neighboring Kanagawa prefecture.
The robots, called Peanut, are each about 120 cm tall and have three inbuilt shelves on which plates can be delivered to and from tables and the kitchen. The robots can calculate the shortest route using artificial intelligence and deliver dishes to three tables from the kitchen.
The Japan System Project, which started selling Peanut in March in the country, said the number of enquiries it has received have doubled from May, mostly from restaurant businesses and factories.
“Due to COVID, more businesses are…
