Munich-based Robotise Technologies GmbH realises autonomous robot waiter with space-saving energy chains from igus

After a long day at the beach, enjoy your hotel room with a drink from the good old minibar. This is very different in some hotels. To the surprise of the guests, JEEVES shows up – a robot from the Munich-based company Robotise Technologies GmbH. The waitressing service robot replaces up to 300 minibars and relieves hotels in times of a shortage of skilled labour. The engineers rely on space-saving and fail-safe energy chains from igus to guide the sensitive energy and data cables so that they can do their job without disruption.

If you are thirsty or hungry, all you need to do is make a call with the room telephone or send a message via the app to activate JEEVES, which looks like R2D2 from Star Wars. The 124cm high and 100kg heavy service robot is equipped with a laser system, 3D camera and distance sensors and travels autonomously to the guest’s room, even using the lift. When it arrives at your room, JEEVES alerts you by phone call or app notification. You open the door, make your choice and use the large touch display to pay for your product – a cold beer, an energy drink or a packet of peanuts, for example. One of the four drawers then opens automatically to dispense the selected product. Just a technical gimmick? Robotise Technologies GmbH is convinced it is much more than that. With just one robot, hotels can save on refilling and cleaning 300 minibars while eliminate the energy for the small fridges from their electricity bills. Trade shows, canteens, offices, airports, museums and restaurants could also benefit from this in the future.

One of the robot’s weak spots: the guidance of power and data cables

JEEVES impressively demonstrates how automation is playing a more and more important part in people’s lives. However, this development requires technical reliability. “A faulty robot waiter would immediately lead to resentment of the guests,” explains Clemens Beckmann, Head of Engineering at Robotise Technologies. “That’s why we attached great importance to making JEEVES as reliable as possible.” A typical weak spot was the guidance of the cables inside the robot, which are responsible for the transfer of energy and data – for example to the sensors in the extendable compartments, with which the robot can recognise inserted and removed products. The cables could be bent too much and break or freeze to the cooling plate of the refrigerator. “To prevent this and ensure controlled and fail-safe movement of the cables with a firmly defined bend radius, we opted for energy chains from the E2.10 series from igus,” says Beckmann.

e-chains from igus ensure maximum storage space and peace of mind

The E2.10 series from igus impressed the engineer above all with its space-saving design, which creates plenty of storage space for the products. The e-chains, which safely accommodate power and data cables, are installed above the guide rails of the drawers, have an inner width of 18mm, an inner height of 10mm and a bend radius of just 28mm. According to Robotise Technologies GmbH, this makes these e-chains the most compact solution available on the market. They also score points in terms of reliability and durability as they are made from a high-performance plastic, which is extremely wear-resistant, abrasion-free and suitable for use in a wide temperature range. This robustness reduces the likelihood of service work, which has a positive effect on the cost-effectiveness of the robot, which is to be used throughout Europe. In addition, the chain links move particularly quietly so that the cable guidance does not cause disturbing noises when opening and closing the product compartments.

One final question remains: why is the robot called JEEVES? The answer: JEEVES is an iconic character from the novels of the English author P.G. Wodehouse. He is the servant of the protagonist, Bertie Wooster, and stands for the best and most discreet service.