A Smart and Flexible Automation System for High Value Cake Manufacturing

The aim of the project is to investigate, research, and develop a new smart and flexible material handling automation system for cakes, their components and decorations. This system will comprise various sensors, software algorithms, and mechatronic hardware in order to create a more efficient and consistent autonomous production method. A major challenge within the project will be the creation of a novel handling and manipulation system that will be able to cope with the difficult attributes of the cake icing and decorative materials. These can be soft, sticky, brittle, and floppy, all of these characteristics are very difficult for automated manipulator systems to handle.
The initial benefits of this project will be to (a) the cake manufacturing company in that the project will increase its efficiency, reduce its costs, and increase its profitability, (b) the University in that it will expand its knowledge and expertise in this field, be able to provide knowledge exchange, and provide employment and experience for two researchers, and (c) provide the other UK industrial partner with an opportunity to enhance its experience and knowledge while contributing its existing expertise to the success of the task.
Further benefits to UK industry in general will result from the knowledge gained from the design of the system to manipulate the difficult to handle materials. This knowledge should have general applicability not only in the food industry but also in areas such as clothing manufacture. The developed system will be modular such that elements of the design, e.g. hardware, software, and sensing, will be useable by a range of companies.