Patent Overview
Title
Robotic sled-enhanced food preparation system and related methods
Inventors
- David Zito
- Ryan W. Sinnet 🙋♂️
- Robert Anderson
- Grant Stafford
- Sean Olson
Patent No.
US 11,351,673 B2
Issued
Abstract
A robotic sled-enhanced food preparation system includes a robotic kitchen assistant operable to determine and to perform food preparation steps, and an autonomous mobile sled operable to supply the robotic kitchen assistant with ingredients and supplies. The robotic kitchen assistant includes a scheduling engine to evaluate food inventory levels and automatically determine when to replenish the food inventories using the sled if the food inventory levels are insufficient to complete the food preparation steps. Related methods are also described.
The Problem We Solved
Restaurant kitchens face major challenges with food preparation, inventory management, and labor costs. Traditional kitchen automation typically focuses on single cooking tasks, leaving the logistics of moving ingredients and managing inventory to human workers. Even automated cooking equipment still requires constant human monitoring to replenish ingredients and remove waste, creating inefficiencies and potential for human error.
The Innovation
This patent describes an intelligent kitchen system that combines a robotic kitchen assistant with an autonomous mobile sled. In the concept, the robotic arm would handle cooking tasks while the mobile sled would automatically transport ingredients from storage areas to the cooking station as needed. The system would continuously monitor inventory levels and use smart algorithms to predict when supplies will run low, automatically dispatching the sled to retrieve more ingredients before they run out. The sled could also transport the entire robotic cooking station to different areas of the kitchen as needed.
Scope of the Patent
The patent covers a complete restaurant automation system including:
- A robotic kitchen assistant with tools for food preparation
- An autonomous mobile sled for transporting ingredients and equipment
- Standardized food containers that work with both robots and humans
- A scheduling engine that predicts demand and manages inventory
- Methods for automatically replenishing ingredients
- Safety barriers that protect workers and display information
- Systems for waste collection and removal
Why It Matters
This patent represents a conceptual approach to transforming kitchen operations by addressing the entire workflow, not just isolated cooking tasks. While this system was never built, the patent secures intellectual property for a solution that could potentially reduce labor costs and human error while improving food consistency and kitchen efficiency. The mobile aspect of the concept is particularly important as it addresses the movement problem that limits traditional fixed cooking robots. This patent protects a theoretical framework for restaurant automation that could work alongside human staff while handling many of the repetitive logistical tasks that consume valuable worker time.