Remote Cooking System with Flavor Sensing and Robot Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote operation systems for robots lack the ability to effectively present sensory information beyond visual, auditory, and tactile senses, particularly in tasks where flavor quality is crucial, such as cooking, leading to difficulties in replicating consistent results due to ingredient variations.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus and cooking system that include a flavor presentation unit to convey taste, scent, and texture to the user in a first space, and an instruction generator to control a cooking robot in a second space based on user input, allowing for precise flavor control and robot operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a user remotely operates a robot using visual, auditory, and tactile sensors, then the user can obtain a sense as if actually present at the remote location, but the user cannot grasp flavor information which is crucial for quality control in cooking tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a flavor sensor as an intermediary device that detects flavor information at the remote location and transmits it to the user. This mediator bridges the gap between the user's location and the cooking environment, enabling remote flavor perception without requiring the user to be physically present.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the need for physical presence (mechanical/physical interaction) with electronic sensing and transmission systems. Instead of the user directly tasting the food, the system uses electronic sensors to detect flavor compounds and transmits this information electronically to the user's device.
2Manufacturing precision
If ingredient variations occur during cooking, then flavor consistency becomes difficult to maintain, but remote operation lacks the sensory feedback needed to adjust for these variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the flavor sensor continuously monitors the flavor of the cooking food and transmits this information to the user in real-time. This enables the user to detect flavor changes due to ingredient variations and make appropriate adjustments to maintain consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of flavor information before the cooking process completes, allowing the user to anticipate and correct potential flavor inconsistencies before they affect the final dish quality.
3Ease of operation
If more sensory information is presented to the user, then the user's ability to control remote cooking improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a multi-functional sensing system where a single integrated platform handles visual, auditory, tactile, and flavor sensing. This universal system performs multiple functions through coordinated sensors rather than requiring separate dedicated systems for each sense, thereby managing complexity while enhancing operational capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a flavor presentation unit that generates data for presenting, to a user who is present in a first space, a flavor of a cooking object that is present in a second space, the second space being separated from the first space; and an instruction generator that generates, on a basis of an input from the user, a control instruction for controlling an action of a cooking robot that is present in the second space.