Meet your new best friend: Barsys, the robotic bartender

By Lulu Chang Published July 23, 2018

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The hottest cocktail bar in your neighborhood may just be sitting on your countertop. Meet Barsys, otherwise known as your new best friend. The robot bartender promises to pour perfectly crafted drinks, dictated by the user-friendly companion mobile app (available on both Android and iOS). All you’ll need to do is let Barsys know what ingredients are available, and it will give you a cocktail menu. As it stands, the app comes programmed with more than 2,000 drinks, and of course, you have the option of creating your own beverage and naming it after yourself.

So how exactly does the machine work? As the company explains on its website, Barsys depends on a mobile app that communicates with the machine, thermally insulated containers that hold ingredient temperatures for up to 15 hours, and an interactive lighting system that indicates the progress of the cocktail-mixing process. To use Barsys, you’ll need to place your preferred base spirits on top of the machine, and your favorite mixers in the thermally insulated containers. Then, tell Barsys what you’d like, and the system will pour each liquor “independently and precisely,” promising to “deliver your favorite cocktail within a few seconds.”

Recommended Videos

The app also keeps track of your consumption patterns, as well as remaining quantities of liquor so you know when it’s time to buy more ingredients. And speaking of ingredients, you have the option to mix five base spirits and up three mixers to make your own cocktail.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

“When I created this product, I thought a lot about how I could elevate the user drinking [experience],” said Akshet Tewari, Founder and CEO of Barsys. “Most people don’t realize that when mixing cocktails — like baking — it’s extremely important to have the proportions just right. Now anyone can make delicious cocktails right in their homes. Plus, it’s a real crowd pleaser!”

There’s also a heavier duty version of Barsys available to restaurants, bars, hotels, and other similar establishments. The idea is to reduce alcohol waste by ensuring a precise pour for each and every customer. While the company admits that its robotic solution will never replace an expert human barkeeper, it certainly can provide these star performers with more time to tend to more complicated cocktails or invent unique drinks.

Barsys will be made available for purchase beginning in August on the company website.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…

Smart Home

The iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max might be the best robot vacuum for carpet

The Roomba Combo 10 Max lifting its mop.

iRobot is gearing up to launch a new robot vacuum, with the Roomba Combo 10 Max arriving in August. The robot makes big upgrades to its docking station, as it can automatically refill, wash, and dry the mopping pad -- making this the first multifunctional dock from iRobot. Best of all, it keeps its predecessors' swinging mop arm design, making it ideal for homes with both carpet and hard floors.

While much of the competition has offered self-cleaning docks for years (including Ecovacs and Roborock), this is a first for Roomba. After a cleaning cycle, the robot vacuum will return to its dock to refill its water tank and recharge its battery. It'll also get its mopping pad washed with water and dried with circulated air, preventing the buildup of mold and odors. You'll even have the option to run a manual self-clean and receive notifications if a deeper clean (or maintenance) is required.

Computing

Your PC’s security is being attacked on two new fronts

Person using Windows 11 laptop on their lap by the window.

Your PC is facing a double whammy of cyber threats, both of them built into basic Windows features -- one that exploits Windows search and another a Wi-Fi vulnerability.

The first vulnerability allows hackers to exploit search in what researchers have called a "clever" way, as reported by Trustwave. It begins when users are tricked into downloading malware, starting with phishing emails with malicious .ZIP attachments containing HTML files disguised as invoices or something along those lines.

Smart Home

This new robot vacuum competes with rivals nearly twice its price

The Yeedi C12 Pro Plus in its dock.

Ecovacs is a popular name in the world of robot vacuums, but its lineup is often remarkably expensive. The X2 Combo, for example, costs $1,600. However, the company has a sub-brand named Yeedi that offers more affordable products, and its new Yeedi C12 Pro Plus looks like a great alternative for frugal shoppers.

The Yeedi C12 Pro Plus is currently available for just $350 ahead of its June 1 launch, though its regular $600 price tag is leagues better than the $1,600 X2 Combo or $1,900 Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra. But despite the lower price tag, Yeedi packed the C12 Pro Plus with impressive features. The robot produces up to 8,000Pa of suction, uses dual comb teeth and an updated roller brush to limit tangles, and runs for up to 300 minutes before needing to recharge at its docking station. Once vacuuming is done, it'll automatically empty its dustbin.