A device for rotation of an object disposed on a horizontal surface, about a vertical axis, includes a base for an object, for rotation about a vertical central axis of the base, at low rotational speeds without achieving the gyroscope principle. The base has a lower surface, at least one downwardly projecting, central pivot lug for rotation of the base thereupon and at least one lateral lug spaced radially from the central lug and having a height less than the central pivot lug. The base is configured and dimensioned to rotate when caused to spin while being continuously supported both by the central pivot lug and at least a portion of the lateral lug as it spins. The base is tilted from the vertical axis at a minor angle, with the difference in heights of the central lug and lateral bearing lugs ranging from 0.025 to 1.25 mm.

The present technology relates to a transportation movable object capable of providing novel cooking experiences. A transportation movable object according to an aspect of the present technology includes: a top plate on which an object to be transported placed by a cooking arm of a cooking system or a person is placed, the cooking arm being driven in accordance with a cooking process; an extensible support arm that supports the top plate; a movement unit that is connected to the support arm and performs movement for transportation of the object to be transported; and a control unit that controls an attitude state including a state of the top plate and a state of the support arm and a movement state of the movement unit in accordance with a cooking state in the cooking system. The present technology can be applied to a system kitchen having a robotic function.

The present technology relates to a transportation movable object capable of providing novel cooking experiences. A transportation movable object according to an aspect of the present technology includes: a top plate on which an object to be transported placed by a cooking arm of a cooking system or a person is placed, the cooking arm being driven in accordance with a cooking process; an extensible support arm that supports the top plate; a movement unit that is connected to the support arm and performs movement for transportation of the object to be transported; and a control unit that controls an attitude state including a state of the top plate and a state of the support arm and a movement state of the movement unit in accordance with a cooking state in the cooking system. The present technology can be applied to a system kitchen having a robotic function.

A plate delivery system provides storage for plates in a first-in, last-out configuration. As the kitchen staff completes a meal (plated), the plate holding the meal is presented to the plate delivery system and the plate moves into the plate delivery system to be ready for the next plate. After a number of plates are stored in the plate delivery system, the plate delivery system is transported from the kitchen to the eating area (e.g., restaurant table or banquet table) and each plate is sequentially presented to a delivery mechanism (e.g., a robot or a waitperson) for final delivery to the table. In some embodiments, the plate delivery system is enclosed and has a cover mechanism to prevent food contamination by foreign matter and in some embodiments, the plate delivery system has heating/cooling mechanisms to help keep warm food warm or cool food cool.

A plate delivery system provides storage for plates in a first-in, last-out configuration. As the kitchen staff completes a meal (plated), the plate holding the meal is presented to the plate delivery system and the plate moves into the plate delivery system to be ready for the next plate. After a number of plates are stored in the plate delivery system, the plate delivery system is transported from the kitchen to the eating area (e.g., restaurant table or banquet table) and each plate is sequentially presented to a delivery mechanism (e.g., a robot or a waitperson) for final delivery to the table. In some embodiments, the plate delivery system is enclosed and has a cover mechanism to prevent food contamination by foreign matter and in some embodiments, the plate delivery system has heating/cooling mechanisms to help keep warm food warm or cool food cool.

A robot includes: a base having a plurality of wheels; a body having a bottom portion coupled above the base, and a top portion above the bottom portion, the top portion configured to support food and/or drink; a first camera at the bottom portion, wherein the first camera is oriented to view upward; and a second camera at the top portion, wherein the second camera is configured to view upward.

A robot includes: a base having a plurality of wheels; a body having a bottom portion coupled above the base, and a top portion above the bottom portion, the top portion configured to support food and/or drink; a first camera at the bottom portion, wherein the first camera is oriented to view upward; and a second camera at the top portion, wherein the second camera is configured to view upward.

A service robot includes a robot body, a main post vertically mounted on the robot body, and at least one service unit provided on the main post to be movable vertically and to be rotatable, and including a service tool. The service unit includes a main plate that is disposed in an inner space of the main post, and a mounting member that is provided to be rotatable along an outer circumferential surface of the main post, and coupled to the main plate. The service tool is mounted on the mounting member, a vertical driving device is disposed in the inner space of the main post to move the main plate vertically, and a rotation driving device is installed on the main plate to rotate the mounting member.

A service robot includes a robot body, a main post vertically mounted on the robot body, and at least one service unit provided on the main post to be movable vertically and to be rotatable, and including a service tool. The service unit includes a main plate that is disposed in an inner space of the main post, and a mounting member that is provided to be rotatable along an outer circumferential surface of the main post, and coupled to the main plate. The service tool is mounted on the mounting member, a vertical driving device is disposed in the inner space of the main post to move the main plate vertically, and a rotation driving device is installed on the main plate to rotate the mounting member.

In order to solve a problem in conventional dish collecting apparatuses that it is not possible for conventional plate collecting apparatuses to determine and collect multiple types of dishes with different shapes, a dish collecting apparatus for causing a dish that passes through a collecting slot to be collected in a dish collecting portion in restaurants includes: a determining part that determines whether a first-type dish has passed through the collecting slot or a second-type dish whose shape is different from that of the first-type dish has passed through the collecting slot; and a processing unit that performs predetermined processing according to a determination result of the determining part. Accordingly, it is possible to determine multiple types of dishes with different shapes that pass through the collecting slot.