Artificial intelligence-powered robots will soon be the next fry cooks for convenience store chain 'Re-Up.' The latest AI venture by the company looks to have customers' chicken wings cooked by robots for a more "convenient" shopping and dining experience.
Re-Up announced that it is installing "The Wingman," a robot from Nala Robotics that uses advanced artificial intelligence technology to provide customers with fully customizable fried chicken, french fries, and other menu items.
The machine works by dropping fry baskets into hot oil and rolling chicken wings around in sauce before dumping those things into buckets for customer consumption.
(Photo: PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images) Researchers have embarked on an intriguing challenge: pitting humans against 27 humanoid robots.
The store is also not just interested in hiring robot fry chefs. Michael Salafia, the creator of Re-Up, adds that the company can offer its clients safe, convenient, and customized dining and shopping experiences by utilizing AI.
Re-Up now operates nine locations, with plans to establish more. Recently, a location near Melbourne Orlando International Airport in Melbourne, Florida, opened. Re-Up's website now lists more locations in Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama.
Re-Up's plans for AI-powered robots are not a first, as fully autonomous kitchens have long been a reality. Recently, Cali Group, a holding company, partnered with PopID, a technology startup that automates ordering and payments using biometrics, and Miso Robotics, the creator of the AI-powered robotic fry station Flippy, to create the first autonomous kitchen.
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The First Autonomous Kitchen
The trio first revealed their plans to open CaliExpress by Flippy in December of last year, which will be the first completely autonomous restaurant in history. Modern culinary technology solutions will be used in this institution, automating the grill and fry stations through robotics and AI.
CaliExpress is located in the center of Pasadena, California. Vic Aulakh, the company's proprietor, claims that this is the first time that so much technology has been in one place.
CaliExpress by Flippy also includes a quasi-museum experience designed by Miso Robotics allowing customers to explore photographic displays, experimental 3D-printed relics from previous advancements, and dancing robot arms from retired Flippy units, among others.
The area is reportedly designed to inspire the next wave of kitchen automation and AI entrepreneurs in addition to serving food. Inquiries about the trips are welcomed from educational institutions and local schools, which promote inspiration and knowledge of culinary technology.
Robotic Cooks
Two robots, Cucina, a grill bot, and "Flippy," are used by the burger business. In an hour, Flippy can produce 250 pounds of French fries, and in the same amount of time, the grill robot can cook roughly 100 patties. No machine requires a day off or a break.
Additionally, Flippy is available at franchise eateries like Jack in the Box and White Castle. Co-founder Rob Anderson of Miso Robotics stated that the business began developing the automaton six years prior.
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(Photo: Tech Times)
