London-based robotics company Moley Robotics has developed the world’s first fully robotic kitchen, which “cooks from scratch and even cleans up afterward without complaint.”
The Moley Kitchen robot is the brainchild of Russian scientist Mark Oleynik, the founder and CEO of Moley Robotics. The technology features a pair of robotic arms with fully articulated “hands,” developed in collaboration with German robotic company Schunk. The Moley Kitchen robot promises to make standard restaurant meals from a massive menu without its owner having to lift a finger.
The kitchen robot is claimed to replicate the movements of human hands consistently. During tests, the robot adjusted hob temperatures, retrieved items from the smart fridge, used the sink to pour or mix ingredients, filled pans, and put food on the plate, as a human cook would.
Culinary innovator Tim Anderson has helped develop the robot. Anderson’s cooking skills were captured and “translated into elegant digital movement using bespoke algorithms.”
With fellow chefs Andrew Clarke and Nicole Pisani, Anderson created thirty dishes to showcase the robot’s capabilities at the unveiling. Every month since, the team has added new recipes to the menu. Eventually, owners will be able to order from a digital menu of more than 5,000 choices and will have the option to record their own dishes as well.
The only downfall is the robot costs a minimum of £248,000 (US$329,170), about the same price as the average home in the UK. Oleynik recognizes the high cost but notes that people are willing to pay, as there have already been 1,205 “qualified sales inquiries” from people interested in purchasing one. He pointed out that the robot’s price was comparable to a small yacht or a supercar.
Oleynik explained:
What you are looking at here is the world’s first consumer robotic kitchen. Like all breakthrough technologies – cars, televisions, and computers – it will appeal to enthusiasts, professionals, and early adopters and is priced accordingly.
However, the company hopes to produce lower-priced models in the future. “We anticipate that our pricing will be reduced significantly over time with production volume, efficiencies, and economies of scale.”
