BarBots square off at cocktail festival

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The 3rd Annual BarBot Festival was recently held in San Francisco.

"They're all fun," says David Calkins, Co-Organizer of the BarBot Festival.

"They're so different, you know. Some of them are very functional, so you can walk up and get a drink like that. Others are very personality based. So Chapek will give you smart-ass comments."

Chapek the robot asks us, "Would you ever date a robot?"

"Some of them sling a drink all the way down the bar," adds Calkins.

The scene took place this week at DNA Lounge on 11th Street in San Francisco -- a launch party for Robo Games, the World's largest robot competition, to be held in San Mateo in April.

"It's fun. Everybody likes robots, and everybody likes a good cocktail. So why not mix the two? You get to hang out with cool technology, and get a drink.," said Calkins.

Shotbot is a barbot made entirely from off-the-shelf Lego parts. Bartendro, makes a mean Black Russian.

Robert Kaye, the inventor, told attendees, "We like building interesting bots. But, at the same time, we're actually very seriously considering a version 2.0 of this that we're intending to sell, possibly for conference operators."

For a White Russian, talk to Drink Making Unit.

Lenore Edman explains, "We hadn't done a cocktail robot before, so we thought it'd be a good opportunity to try this particular genre."

With the help of three breast milk pumps!

Cosmobot makes, you guessed it, Cosmos -- with a Sci Fi twist.

Chassis is a waiter, too, available for parties.

But a real bartender does more than mix drinks; he listens to you.

Tell Chapek, "Boy, you wouldn't believe the day I had, and he replies: "Tough day, buddy? How about some hair of the dog?"

Robogames will be held at the San Mateo Fairgrounds, the last weekend in April.

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