Automation by introducing robots in the food field is not as advanced as in the manufacturing field.
This is because if a robot arm is to be introduced, hygienic problems such as the trouble of cleaning food debris adhering to the robot arm will occur.
In recent years, the introduction of robots that collaborate with humans has advanced rather than full automation, probably due to hygienic problems, but Denso Wave Co. , Ltd. can wash with chemicals such as hypochlorous acid. Announced that it has developed a “food robot jacket” and will start accepting orders from July 9, 2019 (Tuesday).
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“Food robot jacket”
The “food robot jacket” is a jacket that can be washed with hypochlorous acid, etc. by attaching it to a DENSO robot.
Image quote: ( RPTIMES )
The jacket body is made of a material that has passed the standards based on the Food Sanitation Law, and the special flange is made of “H1 grease” that does not harm your health even if you put it in your mouth. It is easy to attach and detach, and low-cost automation can be easily realized.
What are the concerns about introducing robots in the food sector?
Concerns about introducing robots in the food sector include “whether they support H1 grease,” “whether they support hypochlorous acid,” and “whether they comply with the Food Sanitation Law.”, H1 grease, which is said to have no problem on the human body even if it is mixed in food, is used for disinfection and sterilization with sodium hypochlorite, which is generally used in food factories.
DENSO’s aim is to put on food jackets and bring robots into the food sector at low cost, rather than introducing robots that specialize in food manufacturing.
It will be exhibited at the exhibition “FOOMA JAPAN 2019” to be held at Tokyo Big Sight from July 9th (Tuesday).
Labor shortage in the food sector
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has announced that the food manufacturing industry has a serious labor shortage compared to other industries, and the vacancy rate is more than double that of the manufacturing industry as a whole.
In recent years, with the development of AI technology, the range of work that robots can do has expanded significantly. In the food field, there are many tasks that require human judgment, and it has been said that it is difficult to introduce robots, but that myth is beginning to collapse.
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