Systems and methods for automated cooking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals spend significant time on meal preparation, which can lead to inconsistent results in taste, texture, and flavor due to human error, and the challenge of replicating dishes consistently across different chefs or at home without proper ingredients or equipment.
Innovation Solution
An automated kitchen system comprising a robotic device and a computing device that identifies recipes, measures ingredients, and executes cooking tasks based on stored instructions, allowing for precise preparation and delivery of meals without human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual meal preparation is performed by individuals, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but time consumption increases and consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic device autonomously performs ingredient measurement, portioning, and cooking execution without human intervention. The system self-manages the cooking process by retrieving ingredients, measuring precise portions, and executing cooking tasks according to recipe instructions, thereby eliminating human error while maintaining operational flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual human operations with an automated robotic system that uses sensors, actuators, and control algorithms to perform measurement and cooking tasks. This substitution of mechanical and cognitive human functions with automated systems ensures consistent reproduction of recipes while reducing preparation time
2Manufacturing precision
If automated robotic devices are used for cooking, then consistency and precision are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic device is designed as a multi-functional system capable of performing diverse cooking tasks including ingredient retrieval, measurement, portioning, and cooking execution. This universal design consolidates multiple specialized functions into a single platform, achieving high precision without proportionally increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs an intermediary computing device that acts as a bridge between the robotic device and recipe instructions. This intermediary layer manages the complexity by processing recipe data, translating it into robotic commands, and coordinating operations, thereby isolating the robotic hardware from complex decision-making logic
3Measurement precision
If precise ingredient measurement is implemented, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical measurement devices with sensors and control algorithms that digitally track and measure ingredient portions. This substitution uses electronic sensing and software-based measurement logic to achieve high precision without the mechanical complexity of traditional weighing and measuring equipment
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for automated cooking are described. In one embodiment, an automated kitchen system includes a robotic device and a computing device having a memory storing instructions and a processor. The instructions cause the processor to identify a recipe associated with an order for at least one food item. The instructions cause the processor to identify an ingredient based on the set of instructions of the recipe. The instructions cause the processor to determine a measurement associated with the ingredient based on the set of instructions of the recipe. The instructions cause the processor to cause the robotic device to retrieve a measured portion of the ingredient based on the measurement and deliver the measured portion of the ingredient to cookware. The instructions cause the processor to cause the robotic device to execute a task in response to the measured portion of the ingredient being delivered to the cookware.