An example of the development of the world’s first food processing robot for simple food processing tasks

Labor shortages are a global problem, especially in Japan where the working population is expected to decline by 12% by 2040 due to the country’s low birthrate and aging population.
The food industry is no exception, and the entire supply chain, from food production to serving in restaurants, is under a tremendous strain.
The staffing problem is only going to grow, and it is imperative that effective solutions be found.

One solution that is gaining attention is the automation of manufacturing through the use of intelligent robots.
By having robots take over repetitive and hazardous tasks traditionally performed by workers, it is expected that humans will be able to devote their resources to more meaningful and less risky areas.

To make the solution a reality, Japanese manufacturing company Robit has developed CUTR, the world’s first AI-powered food processing robot.
Reduced production time and waste – this is the case of Robit, which has developed an AI robotics solution for food processing.
It was built using a combination of the company’s proprietary image processing algorithms, a robot equipped with a camera for cutting, and motion control technology.

CUTR can remove the inedible parts of produce and cut the remaining pieces into the right size and shape without human intervention,
It can also handle irregularly shaped and fragile produce such as mushrooms and lettuce.

The high capabilities of this food processing robot will be demonstrated, and the high-precision motion control that supports these capabilities will be explained.
This technology also enables ideal cutting without the use of sensors.