“Ready to (give me an) order?” Georgia startup deploys service robots at Mexican restaurant

Alpharetta-based To Do Robotics is deploying service robots at El Porton Mexican Restaurant in Roswell, where the machines guide diners to tables and deliver meals directly from the kitchen. The technology represents founder Marianela Naninga’s effort to bring automated hospitality solutions she first encountered in Seoul to American restaurants, hotels, and healthcare facilities.

What you should know: The robots handle specific restaurant tasks while working alongside human servers rather than replacing them.
• Servers load food into compartments on the robots, which are programmed to navigate directly to designated tables.
• The machines can store table locations in their memory and operate autonomously between the kitchen and dining areas.
• Restaurant management reports the technology improves efficiency and convenience while adding an entertainment element for customers.

Who’s behind it: Marianela Naninga founded To Do Robotics after witnessing robotic servers during a 2015 business trip to Seoul, South Korea.
• She identified a gap in the U.S. market for similar hospitality automation technology.
• The Alpharetta-based company now develops service robots for restaurants, hotels, and healthcare providers.

Customer response: Families and children are visiting El Porton specifically to watch the robots in action.
• “There are some customers the only reason to come to this restaurant is because of the little things, the robots,” a restaurant manager explained.
• Initial staff skepticism has given way to acceptance as employees see how the technology eases their workload.

What they’re saying: Restaurant staff emphasize the robots enhance rather than eliminate human roles.
• “You just put the food in the place in the little compartments and you program it to send it to the table and they go right to your table,” the manager said. “More efficiently and more easy and convenience and fun was more important.”
• “That’s what the first impression for them. But I’ve talked to them more. This is gonna be more easy for everyone. They’re starting to like it and approve it,” the manager added about staff reactions.

Beyond restaurants: To Do Robotics is expanding into hotels and healthcare with specialized applications.
• The technology already handles cleaning and vacuuming tasks in hospitality settings.
• Future healthcare applications include collecting vital signs in medical offices.
• Naninga envisions robots performing tasks like seating guests and room maintenance across multiple industries.

Technical capabilities: The robots feature multiple delivery compartments and programmable navigation systems.
• “We can program them to have the base in the kitchen of bar and then program to have each one of the tables in its memory,” Naninga explained.
• Each robot includes “four different trays and actually to be delivered directly to the tables.”