X-AiR (robot chef)

History

Product Announcement

At the end of October 2024, Moley Robotics introduced the X-AiR robotic hand for cooking. The cost of the new premium robot is $105 thousand, and it is equipped with its own cooking panel, shelves and dishes. The company's own chef, James Taylor, adapts recipes to suit the robot's capabilities. The company says it will add two to three new recipes each month and can also automate recipes for unique family meals.

Initially, the company developed a two-armed cook who moved along suspended rails, but its cost would probably reach $330 thousand, thereby making it unprofitable for buyers. The new one-armed version comes with a new countertop, two special racks, a cooktop and a control tablet. So far, Moley has not installed a single robot, but expects first orders within the next three to six months.

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engadget.com

The X-AiR is not equipped with built-in vision or sensor technology to allow it to interact with the environment and receive feedback. A video camera is built into one of the shelves, but it is rather intended for general technical support. The robotic arm works "from memory," because it knows where all ingredients, oils and tools should be located, but unable to independently assess non-standard situations, for example, pieces of food that have fallen on the stove. Moley's first-generation robots are also limited in volume, which can be processed in a single session. Depending on the dish, they can make eight to ten servings, which is enough for a dinner party, but not for a huge celebration. In addition, the use of the robot eliminates the possibility of improvisation and seasonal adjustment taking into account the availability of products, since it is not yet possible to edit the recipe.^[1]

Notes