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Carls Jr ad say: If machines can’t eat it, machines shouldn’t make it. But robots do process food.

By Frank Tobe | June 29, 2011

The robot in Carl’s Jr’s new ad is a symbol for the evil, alien machines that bread other chicken patties before they’re frozen.

Stephen Colbert does a schtick about Robo-Slackers” — skip forward to 3:26 to see the bit.

Humor aside, robots ARE involved in food processing and packaging. It’s a rising area of robotics. Food quality, safety, labor costs and productivity are the drivers. ABB, FANUC, Adept and a fleet of integrators are the providers enabling large food and beverage processors to better handle baked goods, meat and poultry products and candy.

Already in use in the EU and Japan, and seeking approval in the US, Japanese-made robot deboning machines are working in refrigerated rooms on chicken legs and ham thighs.

About The Author

Frank Tobe

Frank Tobe is the founder of The Robot Report and co-founder of ROBO Global which has developed a tracking index for the robotics industry, the ROBO Global™ Robotics & Automation Index. The index of ~90 companies in 13 sub-sectors tracks and captures the entire economic value of this global opportunity in robotics, automation and enabling technologies.