Pasadena Robotics Firm, Maker of Flippy the Burger-Cooking Automaton, Launches Automated Drink Dispenser

photo provided by Miso Robotics

A Pasadena-based company known for making robotic kitchen assistants has teamed with a beverage dispenser company to create an automated drink dispenser, the company announced Tuesday.

Miso Robotics has entered into an agreement with Texas-based Lancer Worldwide to collaborate on the project “to build an intelligence backed, automated beverage dispenser that will bring enhanced functionality for a future-focused commercial kitchen,” Miso representatives said in a written statement.

“At a time when the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry is facing record labor shortages, operators are looking for ways to streamline operations, cut costs and implement solutions that drive a better and faster customer service experience,” the statement said.

“The pandemic drastically shifted the paradigm, creating new models for operator revenue streams that relied on drive-thru, takeout and delivery more so than ever before,” the statement continued. “While sixty to seventy percent of certain QSR sales came from the drive-thru lane pre-pandemic, as COVID spread, major QSRs experienced a jump as high as 90 percent. Yet, the new delivery and drive-thru model have made the always-critical need of speed and efficiency an even bigger challenge as volume increases and staff decreases have added minutes to the clock for order completion. Because of this, total average drive-thru times slowed down by 29.8 seconds last year.”

To help speed things up, Miso has already developed a robotics kitchen assistant called Flippy, which is capable of grilling burgers and frying up French fries.

But there’s still room to improve efficiency, according to Miso.

“Miso Robotics and Lancer saw the need for beverage automation in the commercial kitchen — an area of order completion that has long been plagued with inefficiency as workers look to navigate compact, fast paced kitchens and unpredictable order volume during shifts,” according to the statement.

The drink dispenser will integrate with point of sales systems, the statement added.

“When an order comes in, the connected approach will allow the beverage dispenser to ‘know’ the beverage needs associated with the order and will automatically issue the appropriate sized cup, begin pouring and seal the drink,” the statement explains. “The entire process is timed to complete as close as possible with the time the meal/remainder of the order is ready for hand off to the customer or delivery driver.”

Miso Robotics Chief Strategy Officer Jake Brewer said the new machine will benefit workers and customers alike.

“We are extremely excited to create a product that will not only make the lives of those working in commercial kitchens better, but will be a game-changer for the industry as a whole to deliver a world-class customer experience,” he said.

Meanwhile, Miso announced it was opening Series D funding with a market valuation of $250 million, representatives said. More than $25 million has been raised through Series C funding.

More information on Miso Robotics is available on the company’s website, misorobotics.com.

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