No one likes waiting for a drink for too long, desperately trying to make eye contact with a busy bartender,. A team of researchers and engineers from MIT’s Senseable City Lab have decided to trial a new set up in Milan, Makr Shakr. They worked with Coca Cola Company and Bacardi, staffing a bar with three robotic arms that can mix customised drinks.

Visitors to the Galleria del Corso could download an app for their smartphone and design their own cocktail, before sending it off to the virtual barmen. The robots were able to satisfy almost every taste, mixing drinks with or without alcohol. The options were literarily endless- but those lacking inspiration could also check out the recipes used by previous users.The movements of the robotic arms also mimicked every action of a real barman. Their gestures were even programmed by filming ballet dancer Roberto Bolle, making sure that G&Ts are mixed gracefully.

The prototype Makr Shakr is being trialled in Milan ahead of its official launch at Google Developer conference in California next month.