Flippy the Burger Robot Comes to Caliburger
At this point, robots working in the food industry is nothing new. It seems every day, another restaurant is employing AI to cook or deliver food. These are usually on a smaller scale at local restaurants trying to create some buzz. Now it seems a popular fast-food chain is getting in on the action.
Caliburger is known for its “always fresh” burgers and delicious fries. The chain has about 300 restaurants around the world in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Now they are about to be known for something else. Robots!
Flippy the burger robot is currently working at Caliburger’s Pasadena, California location. It’s part of a public pilot program for the chain to test out the new automation technology. The burger-making robot comes from California based Miso Robotics. The company claims Flippy is the “world’s first autonomous robotic kitchen assistant that can learn from its surroundings and acquire new skills over time”.
Burger Flipping Robot Can Change Tools and Clean Griddle
We won’t lie. Flippy is pretty impressive with his ability to work both a grill and a fryer. The robot can change its own spatula and even clean the griddle when needed. The automated process makes sure the food gets cooked to precision every time.
Flippy will recognize different items and monitor them appropriately as they cook. An onboard camera captures thousands of images of the burger, which is cooked for about 60 seconds on one side and 120 seconds on the other. Laser sensors allow Flippy to work safely with human workers nearby. Flippy includes 3D and thermal scanners for eyes and a cloud-connected Miso AI for a brain.
Machine learning allows Flippy to acquire new skills over time. He can also be monitored and be updated over a cloud. Orders are received in real-time thanks to an onboard POS system.
Caliburger Looking to Add Flippy to More Locations Around the World
Flippy is currently only working at the Pasadena location, but Caliburger is hoping to bring the burger-flipping robot to more locations around the globe. The company claims that robots are there to supplement not replace human workers. The fast-food industry has a high turnover and using a robot-like Flippy can help restaurants maintain efficiency.
“The issue in the U.S. is turnover. People want to drive Ubers instead of working in a restaurant. We’re trying to make our workers happier. It’s all about trying to make our employees have happier smiles on their faces. The biggest cost we have is that we train, and then people leave after two weeks to do something else. Then we have to retrain,” said John Miller CEO of the company behind CaliBurger.
Check out our articles on a robot personal trainer coaching runners in Bristol and Pediatric Hal the patient simulator.