Ross Digital RATIO Automated Barista: Sketch-to-Scale Case Study

Case studies

MES

Ross Digital RATIO Automated Barista: Sketch-to-Scale Case Study

Case study of Flex's end-to-end development of RATIO, an AI-powered robotic barista that converts from coffee shop to cocktail bar.

Published

June 4, 2026

Read time

3 min read

Source

Details Flex's collaboration with Ross Digital from concept sketches in 2017 to the June 2018 launch of RATIO at K11 Mall in Shanghai. Covers mechanical design, PLC and robotic programming (STAUBLI), chuck adaptations for eight glass types, water/air systems, supply chain setup, and on-site integration. Demonstrates Sketch-to-Scale execution for a non-traditional electronics product.

Key takeaways

RATIO uses a robotic arm and AI to prepare coffee, nitro beverages, and cocktails from app-based orders

Flex delivered full product realization including BOMs, mechanical design, PLC, IPC coding, and safety systems

Team adapted chuck designs for eight cocktail glass types and tested Epson, KUKA, and STAUBLI robot logic

Supply chain setup, parts fabrication, full assembly, and stress testing completed before launch

Product launched June 9, 2018 after 12 months of iterative design changes and on-site integration

Market overview

SCR methodology note

Vendor landscape

Leaders

Implementation considerations

Important consideration

Original Source

Vendors mentioned in this report

No items found.