Soon, your flight attendant may have more time to be the next T.J. Newman and write an aviation thriller. With dnata producing an innovative cooking robot, your galley, or at least your airline lounge, might have a robot cooking fresh meals.For Robin Padgett, CEO of dnata Catering & Retail, bringing robots to the cooking experience means improved “quality and efficiency”. As Padgett explains below;
"We are constantly looking for ways to further improve quality and efficiency by leveraging the latest technologies, including artificial intelligence and automation, across our global network. In recent years we have implemented a number of sophisticated solutions to optimise various aspects of our operations, ranging from consumption analysis to ingredient sourcing, inventory and waste management. We will continue to closely monitor trends and further integrate AI into our operations to harness the power of innovation.”
The robots can be programmed to recreate identical dishes at scale. The programming is supplemented with multiple sensors and machine learning capabilities, enabling precise measuring of ingredients to execute complex cooking techniques, as seen below. The cook can use cooking utensils on a stove and be programmed to emulate and replace a human chef.
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Already in operation
The new dnata cooking robot is named “Bella”. dnata claims Bella will cost only $85 daily to deliver 300 dishes on four trays. Bella comes with many sensors for collision avoidance and stability. There is also a scheduler that comes with Bella to calculate the most appropriate robot to serve customers. Bella already assists guests at Sharjah Airport’s (SHJ) lounge.
And other robots are working in aviation too, such as the coffee robot in SFO...
This is the Café X Robotic Coffee Bar, which is available to test out at San Francisco International (SFO) at Terminal 1 near Gate B20 and Terminal 3 near Gate F4. Both are open 24 hours.
Granted, making coffee can be a simple brewing process, but Café X takes this to a whole new level where the collection of money and the specific brewing is done via tablet, and then the robot brews the drink order.
Should a flight attendant be replaced by a robot?
Let’s be honest, the conversation about replacing a flight attendant with a robot starts when you talk about replacing human food service at airports with a robot. But most food service is done with meals prepackaged if not also prepared preflight by professional caterers. Furthermore, as has been covered many times on Simple Flying – but especially on International Flight Attendant Day – flight attendants are employed primarily for the safety of the passengers.
No robot can be as effective as a good, well-trained human in connecting with human passengers to wear their seatbelts, not be disruptive in flight, or deal with an in-flight emergency.
Also, in the dynamics of an emergency, do you want artificial intelligence to do the thinking? Someone with life experience and recurring training would surely have more creativity to lead passengers to safety when exits may be blocked, or to deal with an emergency at 35,000 feet.
Read more about flight attendants’ vital work.
Therefore, it appears unlikely that the aforementioned Bella can replace an airline bar cart. But the question needed to be asked.
What are your thoughts? Please share your thoughts with civility in the comments section.
Sources: dnata, Café X