Rise of the Machines: A Burger Flipping Robot Is About To Start Work at a Fast Food Chain
Rise of the Machines: A Burger Flipping Robot Is About To
Start Work at a Fast Food Chain
By Mike Pomranz Posted March 08, 2017
Flippy is here to help.
The term “burger flipper” is often used as a derogatory
way of referring to someone working a low-paying job (sometimes, but not
always, literally flipping burgers) that is generally seen as the kind of gig
that could be done by anyone. And that’s paraphrasing the politest definition
on Urban Dictionary.
But if you think burger flipping is more complex than the
haters like to let on, science hasn’t done you any favors as of late:
CaliBurger, a chain whose last sustained time in the spotlight was occurred
because it was too much like In-N-Out Burger is the latest restaurant to
announce it’ll be using a burger flipping robot to handle grill duties.
Created by Miso Robotics, “Flippy” is billed as an even
better alternative to using a lowly human being to upend burger patties in your
commercial kitchen. According to a promotional video, “Flippy cooks burgers
perfectly – every time,” implying whoever fast food joints have in their
kitchens now are achieving less than perfection.
The burger flipping robot is also equipped with cameras
and sensors that allow it “to see,” meaning it “collaborates in real-time”
thanks to “intelligent Cooking AI software.” The video even boast that Flippy
can “politely move out of the way” – you know, if someone rudely bumps into it
screaming something like, “Damn you, Flippy! I need this job to pay my rent!”
Oh, and unlike some fancy high school graduate who still requires training no
matter how many AP classes he took, Flippy can “be installed in less than five
minutes.”
Earlier this week, CaliBurger – an international chain
that operates in twelve countries, including the US where it now has seven
locations – announced it would roll out Flippy in more than 50 locations by the
end of 2019, according to Nation’s Restaurant News. For now, the robot is
getting a test run at a location in Pasadena, California, near both the
CaliBurger and the Miso Robotics headquarters (which I assume could be very
helpful if the robot suddenly becomes sentient and seeks to meet its creator).
The good news for humans is that neither CaliBurger nor
Miso seem interested in putting people out of work with Flippy at this point.
In a statement to F&W Miso Robotics CEO David Zito said, "Restaurants
are the gathering place we go to interact with other humans. This will never go
away.
Flippy is positioned as a kitchen assistant, supporting
humans in the food service industry primarily with dull, dangerous and dirty
tasks. This is a technology that is meant to be a needed third hand to improve
efficiency, productivity, consistency and value.
Taste and flavor are created by chefs and
cooks." And John Miller, chairman
of the CaliBurger’s parent company, Cali Group echoed that sentiment, saying
that Flippy is there to help existing staffers. “The application of artificial
intelligence to robotic systems that work next to our employees in CaliBurger
restaurants will allow us to make food faster, safer and with fewer errors.”
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