Say hello to the world’s first robotic kitchen, showcased at CES 2021 (Consumer Electronics Show) Created by British technology company, Moley Robotics, the system features a dexterous robot integrated into a luxury kitchen, that prepares freshly cooked meals at the touch of a button!
Ah the wonders of technology! They never cease to amaze. When we first came across this latest invention, we were not sure how to react. But then, who does not want a kitchen that does everything for you, without you having to lift a finger! (No, is it just us then?) Well, Moley Robotics thought so too! So, this British technology company very ingeniously created a system that features a dexterous robot integrated into a luxury kitchen that creates some freshly-cooked meals at the touch of a button!
Showcased earlier at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2021, the world’s first robotic kitchen is the result of six years of research and development by an international team of 100 engineers, product and luxury interior designers and three award-winning chefs.
MACHINE WITH HUMAN SKILLS
It is a machine, but it does not cook like one. It has been designed to capture human skills in motion with Tim Anderson, culinary innovator and winner of the prestigious BBC Master Chef competition (2011) playing an integral role in the kitchen’s development, with his cooking techniques 3-D recorded then translated into elegant digital movement using bespoke algorithms. Tim and fellow chefs Nicole Pisani and Andrew Clarke have created 30 dishes to showcase the systems’ capabilities at launch, with new recipes added every month. Ultimately, Moley customers will be able to select from a digital menu with over 5,000 choices, as well having the option to record their own family-favourite dishes using Moley’s innovative recipe-creator software tool.
HOW DOES IT WORK
At the heart of the new technology are two robotic arms featuring fully articulated ‘hands’, developed in collaboration with world-leading German robotic company SCHUNK, Moley’s exclusive hand partner. The product of 11 exhaustive development cycles they reliably reproduce the movements of human hands. This means the robot kitchen can retrieve ingredients from the smart fridge, adjust hob temperature, use the sink to fill pans and pour, mix and plate up just as a human cook would. The robot even cleans up after itself – without complaint!
A HUMAN-ROBOT SYNERGY
The Moley Kitchen can be used by both humans and the robot. Bespoke stainless-steel cookware and utensils have been design to be comfortable to hold as well as providing a precision fit in robotic hands. The Moley Kitchen uses a combination of sensors and optical cameras to map ingredients, cookware and utensils within in the kitchen. Subtle markers on handles and pan lids help the robot orientate the stainless-steel pots, pans, and utensils. The robot’s optical system can even spot dropped food and clean up before and after cooking. An integrated UV lamp ensures the cooking area is kept germ free.
BESPOKE KITCHEN
The bespoke kitchen is available in an array of styles. Customers can specify from a wide range of premium marbles, onyx and Corian worktops and select kitchen cabinets in finishes to match the rest of their home decor and styling tastes. Each kitchen is also available in two formats: as a smart Internet of Things (IoT) enabled kitchen (known as ‘R’), with or without the integrated robot. The smart kitchen includes an IoT refrigerator and storage which flag when ingredients are about to expire, or are running low, professional-grade induction hob, oven and sink. The smart kitchen can easily be upgraded at a later date to include the fully automated package (known as ‘X’) with the state-or-the-art robot arms and dexterous hands mounted on the integrated three axis rail system.
