Robots weblog | Quick meals mechanically ready: Fig and burger bots current burger robots

With burger bots, a trend -setting restaurant concept that was realized in Los Gatos in California, ABB serves the future of fast food. In the automated kitchen, which always produces perfectly prepared burgers, the IRB 360 flex picker and collaborative ABB robot Yumi put together the dishes with high precision and speed. At the same time, the stock of ingredients is closely monitored, so that the staff can concentrate entirely on the customer experience.

“The integration of ABB robots into the restaurant concept of burgerbots shows the enormous potential to automate automation beyond the factory environment,” emphasizes Marc Segura, head of the Robotics division of ABB. “The catering industry is extremely dynamic and demanding, and our technology enables it to consistency, efficiency and reliability at an industrial level. According to our survey, 89 percent of managers and 73 percent of workers are open to the integration of robotics to automate tasks within their company. Concentrate what is the most important – to offer the guest an unforgettable gastronomic experience. ”

The compact robot cell is a novelty in automated food preparation, since they seamlessly linked two robot types to an intelligent inventory monitoring system. With each order input, a freshly fried burger patty is placed on a bun in a burger box. The box is then placed on a transport tray, which is provided with a QR code. While the tray moves on a conveyor belt, the IRB 360 flex pickers adds the desired coverings in no time and hygienically-according to the data stored in the QR code. Yumi then takes over the completion of the burger. The entire process only lasts 27 seconds per burger.

The ABB robot control can also be seamlessly integrated into non-robotic systems. It enables inventory monitoring of the ingredients, including onions, tomatoes, salad and sauces, in real time and thus ensures smooth running and efficient kitchen management.

One of the biggest challenges for restaurant owners today is to find personnel and bind in themselves3. High fluctuation, rising wage costs and the monotony of certain tasks in the so-called “back-of-house” area still put pressure on restaurants. Automation not only offers a way to close personnel, but can also help to make jobs in the catering more of sustainable and attractive by reducing manual activities and improving work processes.

A survey recently commissioned by ABB Robotics shows that a rethink takes place in this direction. According to this, 67 percent of employees in the hospitality industry believe that robotics and automation should be used to reduce the scope of monotonous, dirty and dangerous work4. While 63 percent of the idea that robotics could simplify their job would find interesting, 65 percent of the robots surveyed would welcome their workplace if this would increase occupational safety.

The idea for burger bots comes from the entrepreneur Elizabeth Truong, who sees the location in Los Gatos as a first step into a wider commercial rollout. “The vision was to bring consistency, transparency and efficiency into the gastronomy. For restaurant owners, this means a better insight into the food costs, more precise forecasts and ultimately better decision-making. I believe that most restaurants will have any form of robot-based automation in the next five years, be it when preparing in the back of Front-of-House service.

Burgerbots is the latest in a series of robot -based innovations for the catering sector. The cooperation between ABB with the Roboead company at the ARK – an autonomous robot -based cuisine that is able to prepare hundreds of meals with a minimal human intervention – demonstrates the potential for highly efficient, hygienic and customizable food preparation. In addition, ABB supports the Makr Shakr company in realizing bartender robots, which will soon mix drinks in localities around the world. These applications are just two examples of how the robotics transform the hospitality thanks to speed and consistency.

The first Burgerbots cell is now in operation in a restaurant in downtown Los Gatos in California. More information is available www.burgerbots.com available.