The first fully autonomous restaurant in the world has been inaugurated in early December 2023 in Irving (California), and it is called CaliExpress. The restaurant is owned by Miso Robotics, a food robotics company, and Cali Group, a fast food restaurant chain.
This restaurant offers a completely automated dining experience. Customers place their orders at digital kiosks, and then their orders are prepared by robots. Robots are capable of cooking hamburgers, fries and a few other foods quickly and efficiently.
It uses a variety of technologies to create an automated dining experience. Digital kiosks use facial recognition to identify customers and process their payments. And kitchen robots use sensors and cameras to follow preparation instructions
The CaliExpress aims to offer a safe, efficient and affordable dining experience. Robots can work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without the need for breaks or vacations. This allows the restaurant to operate with a smaller number of employees, which reduces costs.
This is one more example of how technology is transforming the food industry. Autonomous restaurants have the potential to revolutionize the way we eat outside.
And as always these new ideas have their advantages and disadvantages.
Among the advantages are:
- Efficiency: Robots can work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without the need for breaks or vacations. This allows the restaurant to operate with a smaller number of employees, which reduces costs.
- Safety: Robots are not exposed to injuries from accidents or falls. Additionally, robots can work in a controlled environment, reducing the risk of contamination.
- Accuracy: Robots can follow preparation instructions precisely, ensuring food is cooked evenly.
- Personalization: Customers can personalize their orders at digital kiosks. This allows customers to create their own burgers and other dishes.
And among the drawbacks we can mention:
- Cost: Setting up and maintaining a total autonomous restaurant is expensive.
- Employment: Autonomous restaurants can reduce the number of jobs.
- Acceptance: Consumer acceptance of autonomous restaurants is still unclear.
A video can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxqZQHugLRc
It is very clear that automation is also imposed in restaurants, and especially in those that have a short and well-defined product offering, which tend to be the most popular.
In the near future we will see the acceptance that this type of restaurants have among customers, but I think it will be positive.
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