A robot is launched at the US Air Force base, cooking food and collecting dishes

In December 2021, the US Air Force announced the beginning of the use of a cooking robot at one of the military bases, designed to improve the production and quality of operations, reduce food waste and reduce the risk of transmission of viruses and microbes.

US Air Force Base Travis in Northern California is the first military base to receive a "hygienic robotic arm" named "Alfred." The robot was installed in the Monarch dining room. It was developed by Dexai Robotics, which uses hygienic robotic manipulators to automate cooking and cleaning processes.

A robot is launched at the US Air Force base, cooking food and collecting dishes

Since we were the first in the US Department of Defense to receive this revolutionary robotics technology, Alfred's main goal is to confirm the concept, said Major Huco Tyler, operational officer of the 60th Support Squadron. - Will Alfred be able to reduce food waste, improve sanitation and increase staff as planned? We are pleased to know and be at the forefront of the future catering.

According to technical specialist Hurtado, manager of Monarch DFAC, one of the advantages of having a robot is that it can free a person to focus on a harder task, such as grilling, preparing a main dish or preparing dishes in a flight kitchen.

I think the military can benefit from something like [robotics], "said Hurtado. Every day, pilots are assigned so many things as mission performance, training, vacation and caring for our families. We are drawn in so many different directions that any place where we can free up time benefits us.

Using a robotic arm adapted to kitchen cleanliness standards, the system is equipped with specialized machine vision and other software for identifying ingredients, collecting and exhausting objects using separate utensils and placing portions in a container. Dexai Robotics said that each ingredient takes only eight seconds, and for a full order - "a few minutes." Robot teams can collaborate to prepare orders faster. The system tracks each order, so it can warn when inventory runs out, or show which ingredients are most popular, the company said.^[1]

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