A Derbyshire firm which makes food production machines has teamed up with university scientists in Leicestershire for a project which aims to teach robots how to make sandwiches.
Millitec Food Systems, based in Victoria Road, Draycott, is working with computer scientists at Loughborough University, to look at how robots could be taught to differentiate between food items, allowing them to make sandwiches in a real-world factory environment.
Food is the largest manufacturing industry in Europe, but the industry faces major problems with labour supply due to increased costs and a shortage of workers willing to undertake less skilled roles.
Millitec supplies high-tech food production manufacturing machinery and robotics, which aim to plug this labour gap.
To date, it has developed technology that can assemble and pack sandwiches - and in some cases, help with the sandwich-making process, such as buttering the bread and cutting.
However, it is yet to make a machine that can differentiate between food items, such as selecting salad toppings, to put inside a sandwich.
Now, Dr Baihua Li, from Loughborough University’s School of Science, hopes that working with Millitec on the project will “empower a range of new automation functions on food production conveyors and pipelines”.
Dr Li and her team of researchers are looking to develop “machine vision” and “embedded artificial intelligence (AI)” technology that will allow robots to recognise a variety of food items and carry out more advanced tasks such as picking-up the right elements in the right amount and order.
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They will investigate using a low-cost reliable camera and sensing system on Millitec’s ‘Delta robots’, which will allow the machines to ‘see’.
They will then develop algorithms that train the robots to recognise various breads and food ingredients, and accurately detect their location and orientation.
This involves collecting thousands of images and getting a computer system to analyse them, so it learns what different items look like.
As well as being taught how to identify food items, the Millitec robots will also be trained to spot and deal with errors on production conveyors, such as missing ingredients or items in the wrong position.
If successful it could lead to all pre-packed sandwiches being made from start to finish by robots.
Dr Li said: “Loughborough’s Computer Science department has a solid track record and expertise in AI.
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“Industry presents new challenges to our research and this project will deal with various challenges in real-world factory conditions and meet the commercial requirements in accuracy, safety and speed.
“The developed robust vision algorithms and camera-based sensing system will also reduce the system manufacturing cost.
“We will transfer the latest advances of our research in machine vision, deep learning and robotics to drive innovation for high care food manufacturing.
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“Successful development and commercialisation of the robotics system will significantly reduce the human workforce and improve production quality and efficiency, allowing employees to focus on higher-value activities.”
Richard Ledger, managing director oat Millitec, said: “Throughout our 15 years in the industry, we have seen the challenges presented by skills shortages, and a clear need for a technological solution to support food manufacturers.
“This development project will be a major leap forwards in food production automation.”