Countertop cooking robot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fully automated meal preparation appliances have not been developed, limiting the ability to prepare multiple different recipes and adapt over time.
Innovation Solution
A countertop cooking appliance equipped with a macro ingredient delivery system, micro dispensing system, stirrer, heating element, and sensors, controlled by machine learning models to automate meal preparation, including a micro dispensing system with pods for granular contents and a stirrer using an eccentric stirring mechanism.
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 divided into macro ingredient delivery for larger ingredients and micro dispensing system with pods for granular contents. This segmentation allows each subsystem to be optimized independently, managing complexity while maintaining versatility in ingredient delivery for different recipes.
Solution Approach 2:
The appliance integrates multiple functions including heating elements, stirrers with eccentric mechanism, micro dispensing system, macro ingredient delivery, and sensor arrays into a single automated cooking robot. This multi-functionality enables preparation of multiple different recipes while adapting over time through machine learning, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity by consolidating diverse capabilities in one system.
2Manufacturing precision
If a micro dispensing system with pods is used, then the precision of granular content distribution is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The micro dispensing system extracts granular content measurement and distribution into separate disposable pods, removing the complexity of precise measurement mechanisms from the main appliance. Each pod is pre-filled with specific granular contents (spices, seasonings), and the rotation element simply dispenses predetermined amounts, achieving high precision without complex dosing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses disposable pods for granular content storage and dispensing. Each pod is a low-cost, single-use component that eliminates the need for complex cleaning, calibration, and maintenance of precision dispensing mechanisms. The pods are rotated into position and used once, then discarded, maintaining high dispensing precision while minimizing device complexity and maintenance burden.
3Manufacturing precision
If an eccentric stirring mechanism is used, then the evenness of cooking is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stirrer employs an eccentric stirring mechanism where the rotation axis is offset from the center of the pan. This asymmetric design creates an orbital motion pattern that ensures the spatula contacts substantially the entire area of the pan surface during each rotation cycle, achieving even cooking distribution. The asymmetry in the mechanical design directly translates to improved cooking uniformity without requiring complex control systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the preparation of multiple meals automatically, ensuring even cooking and accurate ingredient distribution, adapting to different recipes over time through machine learning.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element located underneath the pan
Implementation Method 2
Cooking of the food is also performed using a heating element located underneath the pan
Implementation Method 3
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
Implementation Method 4
a stirrer that uses at least one spatula to gradually contact substantially an entire area of at least one surface of the pan after the stirrer completes a rotation cycle
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of automatically executing a recipe using a cooking appliance are described. Control circuitry automatically executes steps of the recipe by requesting that a first ingredient be inserted into a pan. The control circuitry may then provide settings from the recipe to each of a heating element and a stirring element, and cause an image to be captured of the contents of the pan. The captured image may be compared to a target state completion image using a trained preparation stage model selected based on the first ingredient. The image capture and comparing to the target state completion image steps are repeated until the similarity value exceeds a threshold value. The automatic executing of the first step may be repeated until all ingredients of the recipe have been inserted and have similarity values exceeding corresponding predetermined threshold values for the respective preparation stage models.