JD.com’s First Robot Restaurant Now Open in Tianjin
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Chinese online retailer JD has opened its first fully automated robot restaurant in Tianjin. The 400sqm venue has opened as “XCafe” at the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city, an area of Tianjin dedicated to environmental sustainability. XCafe is the first fully-automated restaurant in China, with all aspects of ordering, preparing, cooking, plating and serving performed by robots, which can work a full day on a single charge. Five or six human staff are still required to refill and position ingredients for the robot chefs.
XCafe’s manager Tang Siyu said the restaurant can seat about 300 guests for dinner, with a table turnover rate of three turns per table during the lunch or dinner hour. It currently serves around 40 predominantly stir-fry dishes, with a potential full menu of more than 200 offerings.
The restaurant also features VR interactive games and immersive dining experience areas.
JD plans to open 1000 robot restaurants by 2020 and is seeking to promote the technology to other catering firms.
Questions & Answers
Q.Where is JD.com's first robot restaurant located?
Where is JD.com's first robot restaurant located?
The restaurant, called XCafe, is located in the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city, an area within Tianjin focused on environmental sustainability. This specific eco-city is where the first fully automated restaurant in China has opened.
Q.How many human staff are employed at the XCafe restaurant?
How many human staff are employed at the XCafe restaurant?
Five or six human staff are employed at the XCafe. Their primary role involves refilling and positioning ingredients for the robot chefs, ensuring the automated cooking process can continue uninterrupted throughout the day.
Q.What is the capacity of the XCafe restaurant and its turnover rate?
What is the capacity of the XCafe restaurant and its turnover rate?
The XCafe restaurant can seat approximately 300 guests for dinner. Its manager stated that the venue has a table turnover rate of three turns per table during both the lunch and dinner hours.
Q.What are JD's future plans for robot restaurants?
What are JD's future plans for robot restaurants?
JD plans to open 1000 robot restaurants by 2020, aiming for a rapid expansion of this automated dining concept. The company is also looking to promote its technology to other catering firms.
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