The multi-talented Motoman SDA10, a dexterous dual-arm industrial robot manufactured by Yaskawa Electric, is demonstrating its ability to cook okonomiyaki at the International Next-Generation Robot Fair now underway in Osaka.

Designed to operate independently alongside humans in the workplace, the 135-centimeter (4.5 ft) tall, 220-kilogram (480 lb) industrial robot has 15 joints — 7 in each arm and one in the torso — allowing a wide range of motion for the job, whether it be on the factory floor or behind the kitchen counter.

For a peek at Motoman’s dexterity, check out this video (from Fuji TV’s “The Best House 1-2-3″) of the robot delicately assembling a disposable camera from two dozen parts. The robot completes the complicated series of tasks in two minutes.

This high degree of manual precision comes in handy when grilling up okonomiyaki.

As a chef, the Motoman relies on speech recognition technology to take verbal orders from customers. Using standard kitchen utensils, the robot mixes the okonomiyaki batter, pours it onto the iron grill, forms it into a round pancake-like disk, flips it, puts it on a plate when done, and applies condiments.

No word yet on the taste.

[Photos: AFP]

See also:
- MOTOMAN: Industrial-strength taiko drummer
- Worker bot sorts packages