CaliBurger’s Burger-Flipping Robot Lasts One Day on the Job

"At the chain’s Pasadena location, a newly installed burger-flipping robot named Flippy made a high-profile debut touted by the restaurant and its maker as “the future of food,” designed to assist—not replace—kitchen staff using cameras and thermal scanners and part of a planned roll-out of about 50 units. After one regular shift the machine was taken offline for an “extended break” when the public overran the store and demand exceeded Flippy’s stated 2,000-burgers-per-day capacity; the company powered it down to install upgrades and retrain employees in how to work with the robot. Management noted timing and coordination with human cooks were challenges—staff need to adapt to Flippy’s schedule—so the unit will return after adjustments, with a sign currently promising it will be “grilling patties again soon.”" - Clint Rainey