This Sushi Restaurant Uses a Robot for Contactless Food Pickup | Eater Philly

"When I stopped by Bleu Sushi in Washington Square West to pick up a takeout order of soft shell crab tempura and spicy tuna rolls, a robot named Bleu Bot—installed a few days earlier by owner Hendra Yong to follow coronavirus safety protocols and have a little fun—grabbed the bag, rotated it over to a table by the restaurant’s big, open front window, set it down, and gracefully bowed as a wordless “thank you.” Yong or an employee initially hands the bag to Bleu Bot so staff can maintain six feet of distance, and watching the robot bow and prompt customers to bow back has been a real crowd-pleaser. Ordered from Japan and decorated with color-changing LED lights, Bleu Bot can also do a clunky little dance and bang a small gong, and Yong says he’s still programming it and plans to add a voice later; Yong, who’s originally from Indonesia and whose sushi restaurant turned eight on May 1, says people are often surprised because no one else is doing this." - Rachel Vigoda