Multi-Mode Cooking Robot Gripper Control for Diverse Kettle Tasks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking robot systems are limited to performing a single type of cooking, such as deep-frying, and cannot be utilized for diverse cooking tasks like stir-frying or soup/stew cooking, leading to underutilization and inefficiency in large-scale food preparation environments.
Innovation Solution
A cooking robot system incorporating a multi-joint robot, a controller, and a kettle with an automatic water supply unit, temperature sensor, and gripper unit capable of handling multiple cooking utensils, allowing for various cooking modes including automatic and manual operations to perform diverse cooking tasks like deep-frying, stir-frying, and soup/stew cooking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cooking robot system is designed to perform only a single type of cooking (e.g., deep-frying), then the system structure can be simplified and easier to operate, but the system cannot perform diverse cooking tasks leading to underutilization
Solution Approach 1:
The cooking robot system is designed to perform multiple cooking functions including deep-frying, stir-frying, and soup/stew cooking through a single integrated system. The robot can automatically execute different cooking programs for various cooking types, enabling one system to replace multiple specialized systems and significantly improving utilization rates.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a cooking robot system is designed to perform multiple types of cooking, then the system versatility is improved, but the system structure becomes more complex and harder to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The cooking robot system incorporates automatic water supply units that autonomously fill kettles with water based on preset recipes, eliminating the need for manual water addition. The system automatically selects and executes appropriate cooking programs based on the cooking type, reducing operational complexity despite the multi-functional capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-stores multiple cooking programs for different cooking types (deep-frying, stir-frying, soup/stew cooking) and automatically selects the appropriate program based on the cooking task. This preliminary programming approach allows the complex multi-functional system to operate simply through automatic program selection rather than requiring complex real-time decision-making.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a cooking robot system is designed to perform multiple types of cooking, then the system versatility is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to multiple modes and controls
Solution Approach 1:
The cooking robot system automatically determines the cooking type and executes the corresponding program without requiring the operator to manually select between multiple modes. The automatic water supply unit and program selection system handle the complexity internally, presenting a simple interface to the user while maintaining multi-functional capability.
4Productivity
If the robot system is used for cooking tasks, then labor intensity is reduced, but the system cannot be utilized when the robot is not actively cooking
Solution Approach 1:
The cooking robot system can automatically perform various cooking tasks including deep-frying, stir-frying, and soup/stew cooking, allowing the system to be utilized for different cooking needs throughout the day. This multi-functionality ensures the system remains productive across different cooking scenarios rather than being limited to a single task.
Data Source
AI summary
According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a cooking robot system may include a first kettle, a multi-joint robot, and a controller, and wherein the controller, when controlling a movement of the multi-joint robot to grip a cooking utensil, determines whether to rotate a gripper unit coupled to the multi-joint robot according to a kind of the cooking utensil.