Qualcomm robotics innovations help drive restaurants of the future, today

As a world-leading wireless technology innovator, Qualcomm Technologies continues to solve system-level challenges that can help to accelerate business and transform a wide range of industries across retail, energy, supply chains, and more — and the hospitality industry is no exception.  Our Internet of Things (IoT) technology innovations help enable businesses to digitality transform, using leading-edge connectivity solutions, low-power/high-performance computing, and AI to drive new solutions that can enhance customer experiences, empower store associates, and improve operational efficiencies.

In the quick-service restaurant industry, technology can enhance how customers order at a drive-through or self-service kiosk in store; improve how orders are processed; complete repetitive kitchen tasks; provide support for inventory management; autonomously deliver orders; and much more. Our IoT technology can help address all these operational touchpoints.

Plato – a spotlight on food delivery

United Robotics Group launched their first serving cobiot — robot for humans — Plato, which aims to support workers in the hospitality and food services sector mainly in restaurant and catering settings. Plato includes the Qualcomm Robotics RB3 Platform featuring the Qualcomm SDA845 processor.  Plato’s launch follows the well-known humanoid robots NAO and Pepper © Softbank Robotics, also designed by Aldebaran, part of United Robotics Group, standing 110 centimeters tall, 54.5 centimeters wide, and weighing 53 kilograms. Designed in Paris and made in France, Plato features a 10-inch touchscreen and two speakers, enabling it to ‘communicate’ with customers. Its three shelves are equipped with weight sensors — supporting 30 kilogram loads at a time — and three 3D cameras with depth sensors, in addition to the LIDAR system to easily map environments and autonomously navigate indoors for up to 15 hours of autonomy, avoiding obstacles in real time and operating in serving and bussing modes. With additional features like a hands-free Bluetooth command microphone, Plato has the capacity to further facilitate use with an integrated hands-free CobiotX voice command.

Let’s look at the technology inside

United Robotics Group chose to collaborate with Qualcomm Technologies for Plato’s development to deliver a smart and safe service robot, thanks to the Qualcomm Robotics RB3 Platform processor. The platform combines high-performance heterogeneous computing — the Qualcomm AI Engine — for on-device machine learning, computer vision, hardware-based security, multimedia, as well as Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity support.

RB3 Platform key benefits:

• Battery efficiency – designed for challenging power and thermal dissipation requirements
• Intelligence – on-device intelligence and vision to enable mapping and trajectory algorithms
• Graphics – powerful graphics with Android OS for personalized customer displays 
• Connectivity – virtually seamless connectivity support for Wi-Fi
• Product lifetime – support for software and hardware updates

In addition to Qualcomm Technologies, United Robotics Group worked with other IoT ecosystem partners, including VARTA, AWS, and Penguin Solutions.

Where can Plato be used?

Plato is suitable for a range of hospitality settings such as hotels and restaurants, where there are repetitive and time-consuming tasks involved in daily operations. In restaurants, it can be used to complete food deliveries and clear tables. In hotels, it can enhance guest experiences by delivering a variety of services, such as beverages, food items, and more. Applications for Plato can extend beyond restaurants; for example, to support hospital and other care facilities with limited staffing challenges.