Researchers at NEC System Technologies and Mie University have developed a robot that can identify wines and cheeses. And yes, the “Winebot” is from Japan – as if you even needed to ask.
When the Winebot has identified a wine, it “speaks up in a childlike voice. It names the brand and adds a comment or two on the taste, such as whether it is a buttery chardonnay or a full-bodied shiraz, and what kind of foods might go well on the side.” The robot can also be personalized to recommend wines that the owner might enjoy.
The robot does it’s “tasting” through an infrared spectrometer located in the left arm. When a product is placed in front of it, the robot will shoot a beam of infrared light and analyze the reflection to determine the foods chemical composition.
But before you scour the internet trying to pick one of these up for your next dinner party, you may want to save up some cash. The 2 foot robot would cost “about as much as a new car” if it were placed on the market today. The developers would like to get that price down under 10,000 yen ($1000) before they go public.
