Robo-chef on wheels serves up Korean BBQ that cooks itself en route

Category: Technology/Innovations

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. flip the script / flɪp ðə skrɪpt / (idiom) – to do things in a new or surprising way or change the situation or expected order of events
    Example:

    The teacher is flipping the script by letting the students teach the lesson.


  2. automate / ˈɑː tə meɪt / (v.) – to make a process or task work by itself, usually by using machines, computers, or technology instead of people
    Example:

    The company automates its emails to send messages to customers every week.


  3. en route / ɑːn ˈruːt / (adv.) – on the way to a place or during the journey
    Example:

    The delivery truck broke down en route.


  4. laborious / ləˈbɔr i əs / (adj.) – not easy to do; needing a lot of effort, time, or hard work
    Example:

    The workers spent hours on the laborious process of cleaning the old building.


  5. envision / ɪnˈvɪ ʒən / (v.) – to think about or imagine what something could be like in the future
    Example:

    She envisions her small business growing into a global brand.


Article

Read the text below.

A robotic food truck is cooking up fresh Korean stir-fries without the need for a human chef. At the crossroads of robotics and restaurants, one Silicon Valley startup says it’s serving up the future. It’s a new kind of food truck hitting the road that might change the way we think about food delivery. In a world where delivery robots are dropping off food, Kish Shin is flipping the script.


Kish Shin, CEO & co-founder of Shin Starr Presents, says, “We thought we wanted to disrupt and enhance the food delivery service market by a food truck that is able to cook food autonomously whilst in driving conditions.”


Inside the truck, the magic happens through a system called Autowok, a modular, AI-powered robot that automates cooking, serving, and even cleaning. Once a human preps the ingredients and stocks the truck, the robot takes over from there. Shin says, “So the value of the truck is it’s able to provide freshly cooked food, which is obviously more tasty, better quality food because it’s freshly cooked.”


As the truck drives to your location, the system retrieves ingredients and drops them into a heated, rotating canister, like a high-tech wok. The Autowok fires into life, and hot meals are stir-fried en route. “Once the food is finished, the Autowok dispenses the finished food into the bowl, and the bowl is passed on to the driving section,” says Shin.


What’s more, the robot is even able to clean itself—so no more laborious pot-washing. Shin says, “The Autowok is able to clean itself, to, I want to say, a perfect clean condition.”


Shin Starr also envisions someday partnering with an autonomous vehicle company. “We’re definitely very open to working closely with the likes of delivery bots, as well as driverless trucks, so in which case our next generation trucks wouldn’t even require a human driver,” he says.


The company isn’t stopping at food trucks. Shin Starr is preparing to open its first micro restaurant inside a California airport, a fully automated kitchen that serves guests 24/7.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • A new food truck in Silicon Valley can cook Korean stir-fry dishes without a human chef. Would you be interested in trying food made by a robot? Why or why not? Do you think it could taste as good as food made by a person? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • If driverless food trucks and robot chefs become normal in the future, how do you imagine your daily meals might change? Do you think society should keep developing robots for food and delivery, or should there be limits to how much robots do for us? Why do you say so? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • The company is also planning to open a fully automated restaurant that serves people 24/7. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of a fully automated restaurant? Do you think people will enjoy eating in places without human staff, or will they miss the personal service? Why do you say so? Discuss.
  • Shin Starr plans to open a fully automated micro restaurant inside a California airport. In your opinion, could fully automated dining become the new normal in public spaces like airports or malls? Why or why not? Discuss.