Makr Shakr has introduced Robi, a humanoid bartender developed with Politecnico di Torino, designed to operate in real hospitality settings where timing, interaction and adaptability are essential. 

Italian robotics company Makr Shakr has revealed Robi, a humanoid bartender created to function in real-world hospitality environments. Developed in collaboration with Politecnico di Torino, the project focuses on how robotic systems can prepare and serve drinks while interacting with guests in dynamic, fast-moving settings.

Unlike earlier robotic bartending systems that operate in controlled conditions, Robi is designed to work in spaces such as bars, events and public venues where service unfolds in real time. The system is trained using virtual reality-assisted teleoperation, where a human operator guides the robot’s movements. These actions are recorded and translated into a dataset, allowing the robot to gradually learn and repeat tasks independently.

A key focus of the project is timing. In hospitality, even small delays can affect the guest experience, so the system uses a dedicated wifi 6 network and a data distribution framework to maintain fast and stable communication. This enables the robot to respond quickly during interactions, helping to create a smoother service flow.

The development team has also addressed the challenge of translating human movement into robotic action. Because human and robotic bodies function differently, custom software has been created to convert human gestures into precise mechanical movements. This process allows the robot to mirror actions such as pouring and mixing with greater accuracy, while maintaining a natural rhythm behind the bar.

Robi is introduced through a short film set in Milan, where the robot is shown moving through different hospitality environments and interacting with guests. The narrative follows its attempts to adapt to real situations, highlighting how machines can operate alongside people in shared spaces.

Emmanuele Rossetti, CEO of Makr Shakr, says: “For us, innovation is about bringing technology closer to everyday life in a way that feels natural and useful. Stepping into humanoid robotics is a natural evolution of that approach, and we’re genuinely excited about its potential, especially in hospitality.”

The project builds on Makr Shakr’s existing robotic bartending systems, which have been deployed in locations including airports, cruise ships and entertainment venues. Since launching commercially in 2017, the company’s robots have served more than 4.5 million drinks worldwide.

As development continues, Robi represents a shift towards more interactive forms of automation in hospitality, where machines are designed to work alongside human staff rather than replace them. The focus is on supporting service in environments where flexibility and responsiveness are key.