Unmanned Robot Pasta Cafe

JR East's corporate venture capital (CVC), JR East Startup, launched "Startup Station," an event to demonstrate services using new technologies, at Omiya Station (Omiya Ward, Saitama City) on April 4. At the event, a robot from QBIT Robotics (Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo) makes and serves pasta at an unmanned cafe. There will also be demonstrations of sake tasting using artificial intelligence (AI) taste testing, the sale of fresh fish using instant freezing technology, and the sale of station lunches and cakes using vending machines that can handle refrigerated products. This is the third demonstration event at Omiya Station. President Hiroshi Shibata said, "Many people will be able to experience the services that we hope to realize through the venture and JR. I hope you will enjoy the station of the future. JR Omiya Station in Omiya Ward, Saitama City on December 4, 2019. Credit: Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun / Kyodo News Images