Cheers

Cheers

The Beverage Business Magazine for Full-Service Restaurants and Bars

  • Beverage Trends
    • Beer
    • Wine
    • Spirits
    • Wine Reviews
    • Marketing
    • Operations
  • Recipes
    • What I’m Drinking Now
    • Submit a Drink Recipe
  • Resources
    • eRNDC Login
    • SG Proof Login
    • CORE: Children of Restaurant Employees
  • Events & Awards
    • Cheers Beverage Summit
    • Growth Brands
    • BevX Awards
    • Supplier Awards
  • Podcasts
  • E-News
    • E-News Subscribe
  • Digital Issues
  • Cheers@Home

New Ice Cube Tech Detects When Drinks Are Finished, Alerts Bar Staff

09/06/2016

by: Kyle Swartz

That high-tech ice cube in your cocktail is looking out for you.

The vermouth brand Martini has launched a new ice-cube shaped device, Smart Cube, that can be added to drinks in addition to traditional ice. As guests consume their drink, Smart Cube uses Bluetooth technology to anticipate when the drink is finished and communicates with bar staff in real-time. Staff can then prepare drinks in advance so that guests do not have to wait.

Smart Cube also keeps track of the number of drinks people have consumed, to encourage responsible drinking.

Smart Cube was created with advanced design software and the final product cases were injection-molded in food-safe resin. As well as providing its real-time ordering technology, it also functions as a traditional ice-cube, thanks to Aerogel, a technology created by NASA, which keeps the temperature of the cube cool, and allows it to stay buoyant.

“There’s huge potential for innovation within the beverage industry and this is just the beginning,” says Laila Mignoni, Creative Excellence Director, Martini.

Prototype ice-cube cases were developed using advanced 3D modelling software and then produced using 3D printing. The final product cases were injection-molded in food-safe resin and sealed with silicon. The Smart Cube has sides of 25-mm in length and communication between the cube and the bar is via Bluetooth to an iPad Pro equipped with a bespoke web application.

Advertisement
Screen Shot 2016-09-06 at 12.06.04 PM

smartcube_stills.00000418 Communication between the cube and the bar is via Bluetooth to an iPad Pro equipped with a bespoke web application.

The iPad Pro web app stores data on the cloud and features analytics to track drink activity; for example, number of Bianco vs Rosso ordered.

Detecting drink levels is achieved using capacitive liquid sensors within the cube case. When a drink reaches a low level, the cube’s transmission beacon switches off momentarily and the LEDs in the ice cube pulse in a unique color sequence.

The LED and beacon are controlled from a bespoke designed printed circuit board (PCB) and powered by a small battery.

Other potential applications of the Smart Cubes include: Detect when drinks have been tampered with; Detect alcohol content of drink; Measure consumption; Track number of drinks ordered, to help businesses with stock take and measuring drink popularity; Group cubes to help locate friends for whom guests ordered the round of drinks.

Screen Shot 2016-09-06 at 12.06.12 PM

Smart Cube also keeps track of the number of drinks people have consumed, to encourage responsible drinking.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

high tech ice cube ice cube ice cube bluetooth ice cube technology martini Martini high tech ice cube Martini ice cube Martini Smart Cube Martini tech ice cube Smart Cube Smart Cube what is Smart Cube who makes tech ice cube

Last modified: 09/06/2016

Previous Story:
Midland Brewing Partners With Kosch Dining Solutions On Beer Garden
Next Story:
Interview: Helping Operators Locate Hard-To-Find Products With SevenFifty

About the Author: Kyle Swartz

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Follow Us

Facebook
Twitter

In The News

  • Diageo Acquiring Don Papa Rum
  • San Francisco Cocktails Celebrate Mean Girls The Musical
  • NYC’s Mister Paradise Unveils New Menu
  • How Much Do Alcohol Consumers Care About Sustainability?
  • Podcast: Beverage Alcohol Trends For 2023
  • Meet The Mixologist: Laura Unterberg
More News >>

Featured Drink

  • Red Dragon
    Red Dragon cocktail

Drink Recipes

  • A Round of Valentine’s Day Cocktails for 2023
  • Red Dragon
  • Year of the Rabbit
  • Viva Magenta Colored Cocktails
  • Winter White Sangria

Current Issue

Cheers Current Issue

Cheers Magazine

  • About Cheers
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Market Research

Events & Awards

  • Beverage Excellence Awards
  • Cheers Beverage Summit
  • Growth Brands Awards

Magazines

  • Cheers
  • Beverage Dynamics
  • StateWays
  • Beverage Wholesaler
  • Beverage Handbooks (research)

E-Newsletters

  • Better Bartending
  • Cheers
  • Beverage Dynamics
  • StateWays
  • Beverage Wholesaler
  • Beverage Universe
  • Cannabis Regulator
  • About EPG Brand Acceleration
  • Send File
  • Privacy Policy
© Cheers Magazine. All rights reserved.