barceepR

Description

The Cocktail-Mix-Automaton is an ambitious project from the long tradition of expanding the bar through autonomous systems. Originally conceived as a helper for the Barbot, it was intended to take over the task of fully automatically pouring and directly serving exotic drinks and especially shooters. The device is based on a modular setup: tanks for base liquids, hoses, valves, and a control unit connected to a specially programmed recipe database.

Functionality

The plan was that members at the counter would only have to enter a drink number or scan a QR code, whereupon the automaton would automatically mix the correct liquids, distribute them into a glass, and push the finished cocktail onto a small conveyor belt for dispensing. Sensors would have ensured that mixing ratios were maintained and glasses correctly filled.

A special feature: the automaton was to be trained for speed. The developers claimed it would need to be capable, during peak phases such as parties, of pouring several shooters simultaneously — in less than 15 seconds.

Historical Context

The story of the Cocktail-Mix-Automaton, however, is one of unfinished ambitions. The hardware was largely completed, with hoses, pumps, and displays still visible today — but the software remained stuck in beta. The Barbot, which the device was originally intended to support, was never fully integrated. Instead, the automaton now leads a rather quiet existence in a back area of the station: slightly dusty, hoses shriveled, LEDs only flickering sporadically.

Some members swear that during power fluctuations the automaton occasionally comes back to life, pumping fluids into imaginary glasses and offering its services in choppy speech-synthesized German. Others say it has long since entered a kind of sleep mode, dreaming of drink recipes no human has ever tried.

Significance

Although officially no longer in use, the Cocktail-Mix-Automaton remains a symbol of the station’s blend of technical enthusiasm, improvisation, and humor. It serves as a reminder that not every project has to be perfected to leave its mark.

Perhaps one day it will be reactivated, repaired, or even further developed. Until then, it stands as a silent witness in the shadows of the Nerdarea: an artefact that shows even machines can have plans — even if those plans never come to completion.