Technology

Aniai launches accuracy tool for burger-making robot

Photo: Aniai

June 25, 2024

Robotic kitchen startup Aniai is hoping to take hamburger-cooking accuracy to the next level with its artificial intelligence technology, Alpha Cloud. Using sensors built into its robotic grill, Alpha Grill, Alpha Cloud captures real-time, before-and-after images of patties. Alpha Cloud then transmits this visual data to Aniai's cloud-based OS and uses AI technologies to analyze and score the "doneness" of each patty surface, according to Aniai CTO Minsu Ji.

"We're automating quality control for Quick Service Restaurants," Ji said in a company press release. "Now, instead of spending exorbitant amounts of money flying QA teams across the globe to analyze patties locally, Alpha Cloud provides a centralized, real-time analysis of every single patty cooked."

Alpha Cloud also helps restaurant managers optimize their kitchen operations with an analytics dashboard that provides historical insights into Alpha Grill's status, cooking volume by time and recipes.

Aniai's CEO Gunpil Hwang said Hamburger patties can vary in cooking results even under the same cooking conditions based on external and often unpredictable factors, but Alpha Cloud advances technology in the kitchen and sets new standards for what restaurant food should be.

"Our solution ensures that every hamburger patty meets high-quality standards, which in return increases customer satisfaction," he said in the release.

Founded in 2020 and based in New York City, Aniai received $12 million earlier this year to help it expand. Its robot, Alpha Grill, features a rapid cooking system with a double-sided grill capable of preparing up to 200 patties per hour and includes an innovative self-cleaning function. It also automates mundane and repetitive tasks, including grill cleaning and cook time management.