New soba noodle-making robot at Japan train station eatery can cook 150 servings an hour
A two-armed robot is helping to prepare soba noodles at an eatery at JR Kaihimmakuhari Station in this city's Mihama Ward, capably boiling the noodles in a strainer, rinsing them and then dipping them in iced water. The Sobaichi Perie Kaihimmakuhari eatery implemented a collaborative cooking system, with the robot cooking the food and employees adding the dipping sauce or soup and toppings. It is apparently the first time for the cooking robot to be introduced in an actual restaurant setting. Connected Robotics commented, "Not only can it tackle the shortage of human resources, it can also cook without any human contact and is therefore useful in reducing the risk of coronavirus infections." JR East Foods, meanwhile, explained, "We aim to implement it (the robot) at 30 stores by the end of fiscal 2025."