Chinese robot chef debuts

China Youth Daily reported that the world's first robot chef cooking Chinese cuisine has been developed by Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Yangzhou University. The robot was recently on show at the eighth Shenzhen High-Tech Fair in Shenzhen. Henceforward, cooking delicious Chinese cuisine will be simple. However, the preparation will still require human input. The raw materials must be manually prepared in accordance with nutrition and health standards and the recipe programmed in. The robot will then identify the recipe and begin cooking automatically. A few minutes later the food is ready to be served.

Scientists have spent four years developing the robot. It is the first time modern machinery and electronic engineering technologies have been applied to Chinese cooking. The structure and control system was developed by Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Yangzhou University was responsible for the standardization of the food parameters.

More than 50 patents are applied in this robot, including over 10 international patents. The robot passed an examination by the Ministry of Science and Technology. It is expected that commercial robots will be formally introduced to the market in the latter half of 2007 and will be used mainly in fast-food stores, restaurants and canteens. The price is expected to range between 20,000 and 30,000 yuan. In 2008 cooking robots will begin to be used in the homes of ordinary people.

By People's Daily Online