Rural America has a little-known trick. You can get the best fried food at gas stations (or, in the case of places I went on my last road trip, shockingly delicious tikka masala). Now, one convenience store chain is taking steps to rectify the situation by deploying fry-cooking robots to places once occupied by people who may or may not smell a recent cigarette, and cook up mean chicken liver fries. I'm thinking of changing it.
Convenience store chain Re-Up has announced that it will be introducing Nala Robotics' robot “The Wingman.'' The robot drops a frying basket into hot oil, rolls the wings in the sauce, and then dumps them into a bucket for consumption (at least, based on the information below). video below). The company says the machine uses “advanced artificial intelligence technology” to provide customers with “a fully customizable menu of fried chicken, fries, and more.”
A quote from the release reads, “Wingmen don't get sick, can work 24 hours a day, and can always cook any dish efficiently, improving quality and saving on labor costs.” .
But the store apparently isn't just focused on hiring robotic fry cooks. “By harnessing the power of AI, we will be able to offer our customers a convenient, personalized and safe shopping and dining experience,” said Michael Salafia, founder of Re-Up. To be honest, I always felt very safe around Chet and he always knew my turn. But this is the future, right?
Re-Up currently has nine stores (with more on the way), including one that just opened near Melbourne Orlando International Airport in Melbourne, Florida. Re-Up's site also lists other locations in Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama, as well as this image of Robot His arm dipping a robot finger into a latte. Masu.