Robot Servers in Japanese Restaurant Controlled by Paralyzed Operators

A cafe with an all-robot staff controlled by paralyzed people has opened in Tokyo. The cafe, called Dawn ver.β, held its ribbon cutting ceremony on Nov. 26.

Ten people with conditions like ALS and other spinal cord injuries are currently employed at Dawn, according to Sankei.

From home, they operate the OriHime-D, a 120-centimeter (4-foot) robot that communicates, moves around and handles objects.

Behind the OriHime-D is Ory, a startup that develops robotics for disabled people.

The OriHime-D can also be used by people involved in childcare, nursing care or other activities that prevent them from leaving home or a certain location.

“Even those who can’t go out can work through this alter ego and have a role in society,” Ory noted.

The cafe, located in the Japanese capital’s Akasaka District, is a joint effort between Ory, All Nippon Airways (ANA), the Nippon Foundation, and the Avatar Robotic Consultative Association (ARCA).

For their service, each operator is paid 1,000 yen ($8.80) an hour, the standard wage for part-time work in Japan.

However, Dawn will only run until Dec. 7 — as the beta in its name suggests.

Images via Ory / ARCA

Hat tip to Money Mark for the link