From time to time, an fascinating patent seems in patent searches that make you marvel precisely what somebody’s as much as. Now, don’t get me flawed. Patents are issued on a regular basis, and more often than not, an actual product or enterprise isn’t created. However in the case of somebody like IdeaLab‘s Invoice Gross – an inventor recognized for creating dozens of merchandise and corporations – you must marvel what he’s received up his sleeve.
First, let’s take a look at the patent. Granted B1 standing yesterday, the patent, US 11738466 B1, is titled “Robotic For Making ready And Delivering Meals Gadgets” The patent description goes on to explain simply that:
The automated meals preparation and supply robotic includes a communications system configured to obtain a meals order and tackle from a buyer, a navigation system configured to robotically drive the automobile to the tackle, and an automatic meals preparation system configured to arrange meals in accordance with the meals order whereas en path to the shopper tackle.
The automated meals preparation system is configured to find out a drive time to journey to the shopper tackle, and decide a preparation time to arrange the meals in accordance with the meals order. If the drive time is bigger than the preparation time, the robotic waits after which begins making ready the meals after a delay considerably equal to the drive time minus the preparation time. On this method, preparation of the meals coincides with arrival on the buyer tackle.
We’ve seen numerous loopy concepts that tie collectively mobility and cooking, however that is the primary one which I’ve seen that may be a absolutely autonomous robotic automobile and meals prep multi functional:
The invention in the popular embodiment is an automatic meals preparation and supply robotic configured to arrange meals orders whereas en path to a buyer tackle, with out assistance from an individual on the automobile. The automated meals preparation and supply robotic includes: a automobile, a communications system configured to obtain a meals order and tackle from a buyer, a navigation system configured to robotically drive the automobile to the tackle; and an automatic meals preparation system configured to arrange the meals in accordance with the meals order whereas en path to the shopper tackle and dispense the meals upon arrival.
Right here’s a determine from the patent that outlines the sequence of processing a meals order:
Positively bold and kinda loopy, particularly contemplating previous venture-funded concepts that mixes meals, automation and mobility haven’t precisely been profitable at this level.
Alternatively, that is Invoice Gross, a well known inventor and profitable entrepreneur. And since Gross, who runs one of many longest-running Silicon Valley expertise incubators round, is listed as the only inventor on the patent, my guess is that is an thought he’s a minimum of considerably invested in.
Nonetheless, it’s but to be seen whether or not or not he’s planning on productizing the idea. Like I stated, most patented concepts stay simply that, concepts. However given Gross’s historical past of each founding profitable firms and a deep curiosity in robotics – he was a co-founder of Evolution Robotics, a maker of cleansing robots acquired in 2012 by iRobot – it’s value keeping track of.
I’ve reached out to Gross for remark, and I’ll let you recognize what I hear.
