Motoman (Model-SDA10) – the Cooking Robot
Produced by:
Yaskawa Electric
Corporation
Description of Technology:
According to the manufacture, “the SDA-10 is a
dual-arm, 15-axis robot with incredible dexterity, freedom of movement in a
compact footprint. Both arms can work together dramatically simplifying
end-of-arm tooling. Designed with patented servo actuators, all cables are
routed through the arms.”
This robot is designed to operate independently alongside
humans in the workplace, the 135-centimeter (4.5ft) tall, 220-kilogram (480 lb)
industrial robot has 15 joints – 7 in each arm and one in the torso – allowing
a wide range of motion for the job, whether it be on the factory floor or
behind the kitchen counter. The robot also features superior dexterity and
best-in-class wrist characteristics which make slim, dual-arm robot ideally
suited for assembly, part transfer, machine tending, packaging and other
handling tasks that formerly could only be done by people.
Although originally designed for industrial purposes,
this robot can also cook food. As a chef, the Motoman relies on speech
recognition technology to take verbal orders from customers. Using standard
kitchen utensils, the robot mixes the okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake) batter,
pours it onto the iron grill, forms it into a round pancake-like disk, flips
it, puts it on a plate when done, and applies condiments. The fact that this
robot can “respond” to human requests and perform interactive tasks separates
this product from ordinary automated machines.
Replaceable Human Occupations:
Assembly workers and various types of industrial
workers who perform packaging, handling, machine tending, part transfer, and
press tending. On the other hand, the robot can also replace hot dog stands and
chefs at the restaurants.
Relative Advantage (Effectiveness):
The robot has the dexterity to perform complex tasks –
dual 7-axis arms work together or independently; slim design which optimizes
space, providing human-like flexibility and range of motion even in tight
spaces; the ability to hold part with one arm while performing additional
operations with other arm and to transfer a part from one arm to the other with
no need to set part down. In simpler terms, the robot is stronger and faster,
and it performs tasks with more precision and accuracy than any human labor.
This allows the cooking robot the ability to cook food to the exact specification
and guaranteed taste at fast pace without taking breaks. The robot runs at a
minimum operation cost and saves excess labor and costs of labor which justify
capital investment. Lastly, the robot can operate in environments that are
hazardous to humans. They do not complain or sue the company or join labor
unions or go on strikes.
Once the okonomiyaki/hotdog stand worker is replaced
by this robot, it can take the order and money from the customer, prepare/cook
the food based on customer preference, deliver the product to the customer and complete
the order without any helps from human operators. The operator only needs to
regularly deliver food materials to the robot hotdog stand. It can operate 24/7,
365 days while fully replacing a deskilled human laborer. When this technology advances
to the point where there would be robots which prepare many kinds of high
quality cuisines, the restaurants would start adopting this technology without
hesitation. When it happens, the impact on deskilled employment will be enormous,
replacing human chefs and putting them out of work across the globe.
Links/Resources:
http://www.yaskawa.co.jp/en/topics/071121_01/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv7VUqPE8AE
http://www.robots.com/blog/viewing/new-motoman-sda10-robot-cooks-assembles
http://pinktentacle.com/2008/11/motoman-industrial-robot-cooks-okonomiyaki/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSuvFCPgwE8
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