[Report] The Unveiling of 3rd Generation Robot Baristas... The Era of Unmanned Cafes Approaches

Minimizing Privacy Invasion with LiDAR and Thermal Sensors to Monitor Store Conditions
Predicting Coffee Sales Using Deep Learning... Managing Inventory and Directly Ordering Beans
Calculating Coffee Quality to 1% Precision... Managers Can Monitor in Real Time

The third-generation robot barista 'Bit3X' from Bit Corporation under Danal Group.
Photo by Junhyung Lee

[Asia Economy Reporter Junhyung Lee] "The 2nd generation produced 100 units. The 3rd generation plans to increase mass production by 2.5 times. We are confident that the market will grow due to COVID-19."

At 10 a.m. on the 3rd, at the Danal Group headquarters located in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, Jiseongwon, CEO of Bit Corporation under Danal Group, which developed the robot barista 'Bit,' said the above. He unveiled the 3rd generation robot barista model 'Bit3X' and the 24-hour unmanned robot cafe store 'BitBox.' CEO Ji stated, "Bit3X and BitBox are retail automation platforms that integrate various technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT)," adding, "We will create a new retail ecosystem in the post-COVID era with BitBox."

Bit3X is expected to accelerate the era of unmanned cafes. Equipped with more advanced cutting-edge technology than the 2nd generation model, Bit3X requires almost no human touch. The futuristic retail store BitBox centered on Bit3X shows Bit Corporation's strategic shift, which had focused on the business-to-business (B2B) market. CEO Ji said, "This year marks the first year of entering the business-to-consumer (B2C) market," and added, "We plan to expand BitBox to 100 stores within the year."

The third-generation robot barista 'Bit3X' from Bit Corporation is taking orders and brewing coffee.
[Photo by Joonhyung Lee]

AI Minimizes Privacy Invasion While Tracking Movement... Automatically Checks Inventory and Places Orders

The most noticeable difference between the 3rd and 2nd generation Bit models in appearance is the beverage pickup counter. The number of pickup counters increased from two to six. The 2nd generation, mainly installed in companies, experienced a rush of orders during lunchtime, and even though coffee was brewed quickly, there was a shortage of pickup counters, causing delays in customers retrieving their coffee, according to CEO Ji. Nevertheless, the volume was reduced by about 15% compared to the 2nd generation. CEO Ji explained, "In terms of pickup time, it can be said to be about 100 times faster than the previous model," adding, "You can open the pickup counter without touch just by using the order barcode within the Bit application, achieving an untact (contactless) experience."

Unlike the 2nd generation, which used closed-circuit television (CCTV) to monitor people and foreign objects around the robot barista, the 3rd generation uses LiDAR sensors and thermal sensors. CEO Ji said, "Although CCTV is installed in the 3rd generation as well, LiDAR and thermal sensors are mainly used for store management and control to minimize privacy invasion." The 3rd generation detects the number of customers and their movement paths inside the store using these two sensors. If abnormalities occur, it sends alerts to the manager.

The 3rd generation applies the i-MAD platform, an automated operation platform developed by Bit Corporation. AI predicts the number of coffee cups to be sold the next day based on sales data and orders coffee beans accordingly. It also places orders in advance when inventory runs low.

Through this platform, AI calculates the quality of the coffee produced to a 1% precision. Managers can check all these processes anytime and anywhere using mobile applications. AI handles almost all management necessary for smooth store operation, and managers only need to process important messages sent by AI.

Additionally, edge computing is applied in the 3rd generation. Edge computing is a technology where local computers process data in real-time through small distributed servers instead of a central cloud server. This significantly reduces the time and cost required for data processing and enables delay-free service provision.

CEO Ji explained, "The 3rd generation can greet customers and adjust lighting and music according to their preferences," adding, "The grinder that grinds coffee beans is so advanced that it automatically sharpens the blades when they become dull." He added, "Although many functions have been enhanced, efforts were made to reduce costs such as expanding mass production to avoid significantly increasing the price," and said, "The rental cost is in the low 2 million KRW per month range, similar to the 2nd generation."

Jiseongwon, CEO of Bit Corporation, is demonstrating the functions of the smart shelf inside Bitbox.
[Photo by Joonhyung Lee]

‘Smart Shelves’ That Eliminate the Need for Payment... Products Targeting the MZ Generation Also Stand Out

BitBox is a kind of futuristic convenience store targeting the B2C market. The core of BitBox is the smart shelf. Unlike existing unmanned payment methods, the smart shelf operates with the 'Bit To Go' method. Once a payment method such as a credit card is authenticated once, customers can pick up the items they need without additional payment.

The smart shelf recognizes the items taken once the customer selects the needed products and closes the door. Then, the cost is automatically charged to the payment method initially authenticated by the customer. In fact, when CEO Ji picked a 4,500 KRW beer bottle from the smart shelf and closed the door, a notification of payment completion was immediately sent to his smartphone. Then, when CEO Ji picked another product, the smart shelf recognized it without any error. The smart shelf also has refrigeration capabilities, allowing it to display various beverages as well as easy-to-eat meals and snacks such as salads and sandwiches.

BitBox also features 'Trend Wannabe' for the MZ generation. This is a space where merchandisers (MDs) display items carefully selected considering the diverse tastes of the MZ generation. Customers can purchase various items ranging from coffee-related products to lifestyle goods, and the products will be updated every 3 to 6 months according to trends. CEO Ji said, "We build sales data on products before launch and apply deep learning," adding, "Considering simultaneous application to stores nationwide, a 6-month update cycle is appropriate."

Bit Corporation will simultaneously open six stores nationwide, including the Uspace store in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, on the 31st of this month. CEO Ji said, "We plan to operate six stores 24 hours a day as a testbed," and added, "Our goal is to open up to 100 stores by the end of this year." He further said, "Instead of expanding directly managed stores with large cash outflows, we are considering increasing stores through crowdfunding," adding, "The company will manage store operations, and investment returns will be settled monthly based on sales revenue."