Countertop Cooking Robot With Pod Dispensing and Eccentric Stirring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies lack fully automated meal preparation appliances capable of preparing multiple different recipes and adapting over time.
Innovation Solution
A countertop cooking appliance equipped with a macro ingredient delivery system, micro dispensing system, stirrer, and heating element, controlled by machine learning models, which uses sensors and a camera to monitor and regulate cooking processes, including a micro dispensing system with pods for granular contents and a stirrer with eccentric motion to ensure even cooking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fully automated meal preparation appliance is developed, then the ability to prepare multiple different recipes and adapt over time is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ingredient delivery system is segmented into macro ingredient delivery for larger ingredients and micro dispensing system with pods for granular contents. This segmentation allows the system to handle different types of ingredients through specialized subsystems, enabling versatility while managing complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The cooking appliance integrates multiple functions including heating element for cooking, stirrer for mixing, macro ingredient delivery system for larger ingredients, and micro dispensing system for granular contents. This multi-functionality allows a single device to prepare multiple different recipes with various ingredient types, improving adaptability while consolidating complexity into one universal system
2Manufacturing precision
If precise control of ingredient amounts is implemented, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Granular ingredients are pre-packaged in pods that are prepared beforehand. The micro dispensing system simply needs to rotate the selected pod to dispense the pre-measured granular content, achieving precise control of ingredient amounts without requiring complex real-time measurement and dosing mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The pod acts as an intermediary between the storage container and the cooking pan. It pre-contains the precise amount of granular ingredient needed, serving as a mediator that simplifies the dispensing process while ensuring manufacturing precision of ingredient amounts
3Manufacturing precision
If thorough mixing of ingredients is achieved, then homogeneity of cooking is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stirrer employs an eccentric motion pattern that follows a curved, orbital path rather than simple linear or circular motion. This eccentric stirring mechanism ensures the spatula gradually contacts substantially the entire area of the pan surface, achieving thorough mixing and even cooking through its curved trajectory
Solution Approach 2:
The stirrer uses dynamic eccentric motion that adapts its stirring pattern to cover the entire pan area. The motion is not static or repetitive in a single pattern but dynamically progresses to contact different areas of the pan, ensuring homogeneous mixing without requiring multiple static stirring mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
A countertop cooking appliance that uses machine learning models to automatically prepare a plurality of different meals is described. The appliance includes a micro dispensing system containing a plurality of pods having granular contents. The pod rotation mechanism moves a selected pod into a position above a pan to dispense the granular contents. The rotation element rotates the selected pod to dispense an amount of granular content from the dispensing section with each rotation of the selected pod by the rotation element. The appliance may also include a stirrer that uses at least one spatula to gradually contact substantially an entire area of the pan after the stirrer completes a rotation cycle. Control circuitry coupled to a macro ingredient delivery system, the micro dispensing system, the stirrer, a heating element, and sensors performs recipe methods using a plurality of computer vision models to monitor recipe progress.