AUTHOR=Wang Zhongkui , Hirai Shinichi , Kawamura Sadao TITLE=Challenges and Opportunities in Robotic Food Handling: A Review JOURNAL=Frontiers in Robotics and AI VOLUME=8 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/robotics-and-ai/articles/10.3389/frobt.2021.789107 DOI=10.3389/frobt.2021.789107 ISSN=2296-9144 ABSTRACT=

Despite developments in robotics and automation technologies, several challenges need to be addressed to fulfill the high demand for automating various manufacturing processes in the food industry. In our opinion, these challenges can be classified as: the development of robotic end-effectors to cope with large variations of food products with high practicality and low cost, recognition of food products and materials in 3D scenario, better understanding of fundamental information of food products including food categorization and physical properties from the viewpoint of robotic handling. In this review, we first introduce the challenges in robotic food handling and then highlight the advances in robotic end-effectors, food recognition, and fundamental information of food products related to robotic food handling. Finally, future research directions and opportunities are discussed based on an analysis of the challenges and state-of-the-art developments.