Roboexotica

Roboexotica (sometimes spelled: Roböxotica) is an annual festival and conference where scientists, researchers, computer experts and artists from all over the world build cocktail robots and discuss technological innovation, futurology and science fiction.[1][2] Roboexotica is also an ironic attempt to criticize techno-triumphalism and to dissect technological hypes.[3][4]

Roboexotica
Statusactive
Genrefestival, exhibition
Frequencyannually
Location(s)Vienna
CountryAustria
Inauguratedfounded 1999 (1999)
Attendance1500–3000
Organized bymonochrom, Shifz
Websiteroboexotica.com

The festival is produced by monochrom in cooperation with Shifz, two Vienna-based art collectives. Until 2019 it was supported by the 'Bureau for Philosophy' (of the Department of Philosophy, University of Vienna). The festival is usually held in the end of November or early December.

Overview

The annual international festival consists of an exhibition, a conference, social events, and the ACRA (Annual Cocktail Robot Award).

The exhibition presents robots that can mix cocktails, serve cocktails, consume cocktails, have bar conversations, light or smoke cigarettes or manage to impress the jury with (quote Roboexotica website) "other achievements in the sector of cocktail culture".

Cocktail robot at Roboexotica 2007 in Vienna, Austria

History

In 1999, Magnus Wurzer and Chris Veigl (of Shifz) started to present a self-made cocktail robot at the small independent Viennese culture and art space VEKKS.[5] The group monochrom (Johannes Grenzfurthner, Günther Friesinger, Franz Ablinger) first participated with performances and presenting machines, but shortly after monochrom teamed up with Shifz as organizers and the small event became a big international festival presented at Vienna's Museumsquartier and several other locations in the Vienna metro area.[6][7] Roboexotica presents around 20 machines every year and draws around 3000 guests per event. The event is attracting robot builders from all over the world.[8][9]

Roboexotica was presented at Cyberpipe (Ljubljana) in 2006,[10] at Maker Faire (San Francisco) and RoboGames (San Francisco) in 2007.

In 2008 a catalogue titled Roboexotica was published, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the festival.[11] The book features reflections on the festival and presents statements by former participants including Cory Doctorow, Dorkbot's Doueglas Repetto, Bre Pettis, V. Vale, Karen Marcelo of Survival Research Laboratories or RoboGames' David Calkins and Simone Davalos.[12]

A smaller show called "Roboexotica USA" was held in San Francisco in 2008 and 2009.[13] It was organized by monochrom and Shifz and was well received by the press. In 2010 it was decided to rename the San Francisco-based cocktail robot event "Barbot,"[14] and Barbot events were held in San Francisco in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013.

Johannes Grenzfurthner and Chase Masterson at Roboexotica, November 2018.

Chase Masterson was special guest star at the 20th anniversary edition of the cocktail robot festival, and performed a live jazz set for "robots and humans".[15][16]

Reception
Artist Aaron Muszalski at Roboexotica 2018.

Roboexotica has been featured in Slashdot,[17] Wired News,[18] Reuters,[19] New York Times,[20] CNet[21] and blogs like Boing Boing[22] and New Scientist.[23]

References
  1. Steffan, Philip. "Roboexotica 2015: Festival für Cocktail-Robotik startet in Wien". Heise Newsticker. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  2. Atherton, Kelsey D. "IARPA Wants Human-Like Robot Brains". Popular Science. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  3. Grenzfurthner, Johannes; Friesinger, Günther; Wurzer, Magnus. Roboexotica. edition mono/monochrom. ISBN 978-3-9502372-3-8.
  4. Mühl, Martin. "Roböxotica: Drinks und Palatschinken vom Roboter serviert". The Gap. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  5. "V.E.K.K.S". Vekks.yi.org. Archived from the original on 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  6. Fischer, Christian. "Roboexotica: Das Festival für Cocktailrobotik". Der Standard. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  7. "Roboexotica: 19. Cocktail-Festival für Roboter in Wien". FutureZone. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  8. Health, Mary Shinn. "Durango inventor combines music, robots and booze". Durango Herald. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  9. Grenzfurthner, Johannes. "The wonderful world of cocktail robotics". HOPE 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  10. "Simulator vožnje pod vplivom alkohola". Studentarija. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  11. Grenzfurthner, Johannes; Friesinger, Günther; Wurzer, Magnus. Roboexotica. edition mono/monochrom. ISBN 978-3-9502372-3-8.
  12. Grenzfurthner, Johannes. "The wonderful world of cocktail robotics". HOPE 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  13. Wortham, Jenna. "Bot Bartenders Sling Drinks at Roboexotica USA". Wired. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  14. Tarantola, Andrew. "A San Francisco Cocktail Party Where The Bartenders Are All Robots". Gizmodo. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  15. "Cocktail". vienna.at. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  16. Sagan, Sonja. "OTS0037, 20. Nov. 2018, 09:30 drucken als pdf als Text Roboexotica 2018 - Das Festival für Cocktailrobotik mit Star Trek Ehrengast Chase Masterson". ots.at. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  17. "Roboexotica Event Pours Drinks in Vienna - Slashdot". Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  18. Photo story about Roboexotica on wired.com
  19. "Cocktail robots serve up drinks". Retrieved 11 June 2016 – via www.reuters.com.
  20. "Just Like Mombot Used to Make". The New York Times. 24 February 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  21. Daniel, Terdiman. "Cocktail-serving robots invade Vienna this week". CNet. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  22. says, Bonnie (21 November 2007). "Speaking in Vienna this weekend at Roboexotica: the cocktail robotics festival". Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  23. "New Scientist Technology Blog: Cocktail robotics - not just for partying". Retrieved 11 June 2016.
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