The world's first cooking robot has made a significant impact by serving over 100,000 meals in Japan and earning the CES 2024 Innovation Award in robotics. This aims to reduce labor costs in the hospitality sector.
(Photo : CES)
I-Robo, the world's first innovative cooking robot, addresses labor shortages in restaurants and aids busy dual-income homes. With features like automatic seasoning, cooking automation, and a self-cleaning frypan, it connects to the cloud for a vast digital recipe library.
Serving Over 100,000 Meals in Japan
Recognized as the world's first cooking robot, the groundbreaking I-Robo has left an indelible mark on the culinary landscape by serving over 100,000 meals in Japan. Its achievement is underscored by the prestigious CES 2024 Innovation Award in the robotics category.
CES announced the introduction of I-Robo, heralded as the world's first innovative cooking robot designed to tackle labor shortages in restaurants and assist busy dual-income households, aiming to elevate dining experiences, effectively meeting the evolving demands of contemporary culinary expectations.
Initially trialed in various East Asian restaurants, with a notable presence in prominent Chinese restaurant groups in Japan, the I-Robo has successfully realized its primary objective of significantly reducing labor costs within the hospitality sector.
Tokyo-based TechMagic meticulously tested the I-Robo in October of the preceding year. The outcomes were nothing short of impressive, showcasing a notable nine-point reduction in the labor cost ratio and an equivalent nine-point improvement in the profit ratio.
This success story not only positions the I-Robo as a technological marvel but also highlights its practical application in addressing the ongoing challenges associated with kitchen staff shortages.
The I-Robo stands as a testament to the transformative power of robotics in redefining efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the culinary realm.
Redefining Efficiency, Cost Effectiveness
I-Robo's touch panel is designed for user-friendly navigation, allowing users to explore and replicate recipes crafted by professional chefs worldwide. It focuses on delivering fresh and health-conscious meals, with its smart algorithms generating unique and customizable recipes.
The device goes beyond a conventional interface by executing user instructions, ranging from seasoning to stirring, heating, and even cleaning the cooking utensil, all initiated through the intuitive display panel. It further boasts an innovative automatic liquid seasoning supply function.
Interesting Engineering reported that the company emphasizes I-Robo's automated cooking prowess, highlighting its adaptability in adjusting heating parameters, pan rotation speed, and rotation direction based on the selected menu.
Users only need to tap their chosen menu on the touch panel, and I-Robo seamlessly takes care of the entire cooking process. TechMagic envisions a future where technology plays a crucial role in creating a sustainable food infrastructure society.
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Yuji Shiraki, the founder of TechMagic, explained their specialization in developing cooking robots capable of handling various tasks such as boiling, stir-frying, and frying. He proudly shared the operational success of these robots in Japan, having prepared over 100,000 meals in the past six months.
Shiraki expressed the company's commitment to state-of-the-art technology, emphasizing their unique Japanese attention to detail. With plans to introduce I-Robo to the US market, TechMagic aims to address various challenges within the global food industry through innovative solutions.
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