14 DAY TRIAL // There are many technological advancements we could be talking about, but few things beat an event where multiple advancements are combined for the ultimate shock and awe factor. As it happens, the world will be treated to such an event on December 3.
Tow companies, Reimagine Food and Gglab, are working together to show the world what great things can be achieved by combining the assets of robotics technology with 3D printing.
If you happen to be in New York, USA, or Barcelona, Spain, on the third of December this year, you might want to consider attending the receptions that will be set up in those locations.
There are not many details available on the venue, or what kind of food will be served there. What we do, however, know is that the meals will be entirely 3D printed.
And not just the food, but the plates and utensils as well. In fact, even the salt and pepper shakers might be produced through additive manufacturing technology.
To make matters even more unusual, Gglab and Reimagine Food will not use human waiters to bring the meals to your table. Instead, they will employ the REEM, a robot built by PAL Robotics.
Standing at 1.7 meters in height (5.7 feet), the robot uses predictive intelligence technology and an Internet connection to predict what menu items are most likely to be requested by diners. It will take orders even if it doesn't guess your preferences though, so no worries.
No clue how many meals you will be able to choose from. So far, there have mostly been 3D printed pizzas and sugar candy, or chocolate, but scientists and engineers are hoping to eventually make it possible to print whole roasts and other things.
And we don't just mean the 3D printed food for the elderly, which only imitates the shape of meals while still essentially being made of gruel and the like. The plan is to eventually print substitutes for, say, chicken legs, and everything else that can be cooked.
The world is still far off from that goal, but Reimagine Food and Gglab (Green Geometries Laboratory) believe that they can give a taste of the future before the year is out. Alas, the total cost of both meals will be of around $200,000 / €150,000.
Natural Machines will contribute to the 3D printed aspect of the research and preparation, since it has been a partner of Reimagine Food since the latter company's founding in 2013.
