With plans to save African wildlife, drop beer on concertgoers and penetrate tornadoes, we wonder: Are there any tasks drones won't try?
This next airborne, drone-based development might not necessarily come as a shock, but it’s sure to enhance (or at least differentiate) your dining experience.
London-based YO! Sushi, renowned for being the first sushi chain in the UK to deliver food via conveyor belt, is taking its service innovation to the next level: It’s introducing the world’s first flying restaurant tray (see image below).
“YO! Sushi is all about delivering a whole concept in an unusual and exciting way,” explains CEO Robin Rowland. “Amazing food, conveyor belts, exciting staff and lots of technical assistance.”
The overseas eatery is tapping the latest in RC Drone quadricopter technology for what it's calling the iTray, which delivers the restaurant's new range of Japanese rice burgers (above) to seated clientele. The iTray is remote controlled through an on-board Wi-Fi system as well as iPad software. Made from a lightweight carbon-fiber frame, the drone uses four propellers and two cameras to get from kitchen counter to hungry customer.
Rowland says the idea for the hovering helper came from the desire to showcase how “light, exciting and fun” the chain’s new burgers could be. YO! Sushi boasts a maximum calorie count of 423 for the new menu item, making the tray “the healthiest burger-combo ever.” Watch the video (below) to see how nearby waiters try to maneuver the flying bento trays.
Other food purveyors are buying into drone technology, too. Dominos delivered a pizza with a drone, and Darwin Aerospace is reportedly combating hunger with its burrito bomber.
These are, however, only prototypes, which are not yet legal stateside. The Federal Aviation Administration has yet to regulate the commercial use of drones.
What do you think about YO! Sushi's new quadriwaiters? Can drones be utilized to effectively serve diners? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.