Smart and time-saving intelligent canteens in China

An intelligent self-service canteen providing more than 60 different dishes made its debut at a university in Lanzhou, Gansu Province on November 12, 2017, Chinanews.com reported.

More than 60 different dishes are offered in a canteen at a university in Lanzhou on November 12, 2017. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

Most of the dishes in this canteen are served on individual small plates waiting to be chosen by diners. When plates are placed in the payment area at the exit, the cash register can automatically calculate the price of the meal. The whole process is self-service.

When plates are placed in the payment area, the cash register can automatically calculate the price of the meal. The name, price, and nutritional information of the dish are shown when scanning for payment. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

The intelligent system can also adjust the menu according to big data analysis. Niu Tong, the general manager in charge of the canteen, said, "The name, price, and nutritional information of the dish can be "written" into the plates, so diners can view it when scanning for payment."

After two intelligent cash registers began to be used at a canteen at Hefei Industrial University in October this year, intelligent canteens have been increasingly common across China.

In the same way as another intelligent canteen equipped with a face recognition payment system in Hangzhou, students can take their meal by scanning their face. The canteen offers dishes according to the menu set by students a week before, which also helps to greatly reduce waste.

A student looks at the camera using facial recognition to pay for a meal. [Photo: IC]

Taking the advantage of high-tech and advanced equipment, canteens now not only have cash registers that calculate the price automatically but also big data analysis has been used to create menus more scientifically and waste less food.