The Future Has Arrived: Fast-Food Chain Unveils This
(TheDailyHorn.com) – Ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns were mounting that people could lose their jobs to robots. Experts believed that no field was immune to the coming automation boom. Fast-forward to 2022, and the world is in a very different place. Coming out of the pandemic in mid-2021, employers struggled to entice people back to work. Among the hardest-hit industries struggling to find workers were restaurants and fast-food chains. While they struggled with labor problems, consumer demand exploded.
It appears that one fast-food chain is pursuing an alternative. California-based Jack in the Box is launching a robotic pilot program. The restaurant chain says robots will alleviate worker shortages, improve efficiency, and make the restaurant experience better for customers.
Jack in the Box Expands Robotic Technologies
Jack in the Box says it will introduce a robotic fry cook and an automatic beverage dispensing robot. As the fast-food industry continues to reel from a lack of worker, companies are quickly pivoting to robotics to meet consumer demand. The robotic restaurant industry is quickly picking up momentum, and behind this boom is Miso Robotics.
Miso Robotics CEO Mike Bell said that introducing robots to fast-food chains will increase production, reduce costs, and make the atmosphere safer for workers and customers. Bell also stated that it’s exciting to ensure that customers gets what they want, when they want it.
Jack in the Box said Miso’s robotic systems are a massive stepping stone for back-of-the-house operations.
So, what exactly will robots do for the giant hamburger chain? Flippy 2 utilizes state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) to identify specific types of food, pick it up, and put it in the correct fry basket. Once done cooking, Flippy 2 can move the food to a holding area. This is all done without the aid of humans at a rate of around 60 baskets per hour. Additionally, Flippy 2 works behind a plastic barrier, making both the kitchen and the dining experience quieter.
Flippy 2 isn’t the only new piece of technology that Jack in the Box is deploying from Miso Robotics. It’s also adopting Sippy to help fulfill drink orders. The system is more efficient and cleaner than human workers and reduces spills and waste from beverage overflows. Sippy utilizes an automatic conveyor to deliver beverages of various sizes to customers.
Jack in the Box Not Alone
Jack in the Box isn’t the only company using Miso Robotics. The company recently announced it agreed to provide a tortilla chip robot for Chipotle. In addition, Panera Bread is acquiring an autonomous coffee brewing station. The company said they are planning to expand Flippy 2 to other chain restaurants as well.
Miso started building capital using crowdfunding. It primarily raised money through individual investors. Over 18,000 investors accounted for more than $50 million in capital. The company says it’s on track for an initial public offering. It expects to be manufacturing hundreds of robots per month by the end of the year.
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