Playing screen golf makes my throat dry... 'Serving Robot' knocks

Expanded Use of Serving Robots
120 Screen Golf Centers Introduce 'Baemin' Serving Robots

"Nice shot!" The confident driver tee shot flies powerfully. The ball lands inside the screen. This is a screen golf course located in Ulsan. As the tension from the first shot eases, thirst begins to set in. Looking around for the iced coffee ordered earlier, a notification appears along with a voice guide: 'The robot has arrived.' Opening the door, a serving robot is waiting, holding a refreshing drink.

The use of serving robots is expanding. They are being introduced not only in food establishments but also in various spaces such as screen golf courses, billiard halls, and PC rooms. In particular, cases of introduction in screen golf courses have recently increased. Birobotics, a subsidiary of Woowa Brothers, announced on the 7th that as of August this year, about 120 screen golf course stores have adopted their serving robots. Since spinning off from Woowa Brothers last February, Birobotics has accelerated the development and distribution of serving robot solutions, supplying over 2,200 serving robots to more than 1,600 stores. Aside from dining establishments, screen golf courses are the most common places for adoption.

Since screen golf courses require significant initial investment, the structure is such that profits increase by minimizing operating expenses. In screen golf courses, the introduction of serving robots allows service to be provided with only one counter manager, reducing labor costs and improving working conditions. Especially, screen golf courses have the environmental characteristic of needing to serve inside rooms. Birobotics developed a room notification service tailored to this. When the robot arrives, a voice announces its arrival inside the room, and messages appear on LED devices and tablet PCs.

Birobotics recently started serving robot services in baseball stadiums using this method. Currently, a pilot service is operating at Changwon NC Park, where in the skybox, customers can check the robot’s real-time movement status through the Baemin room notification tablet PC and receive food following the guidance. Customers simply select their desired store and menu on the NC Dinos app and make payment. Birobotics plans to gradually expand the stores and robot usage areas through consultations with NC Dinos.

The serving robots mainly deployed in screen golf courses and baseball stadiums are the Baemin Robot S model, capable of carrying 10 kg per tray, up to a maximum of 40 kg. Equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, the robot’s status can be checked immediately. A Birobotics official said, "We will do our best to ensure serving robots are widely used and lead the market," adding, "We aim to supply more than 10,000 units by 2026 and plan to domestically produce serving robots long-term and pursue exports."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.