Not everyone is a natural whizz in the kitchen, but a futuristic invention hopes to help even kitchen novices cook up a storm.
Moley, a fully automated robot kitchen, launched at Gitex technology fair in Dubai’s World Trade Centre this week. The high-tech gadget can create entire meals, suggest dishes based on what’s in stock in your cupboards, clean itself and even tell you what ingredients need replacing.
It also boasts an automated unit consisting of cabinets, two five-finger robotic arms, a motion-capture system, a connected graphic user interface, a screen with access to a library of recipes, and a full set of smart kitchen appliances and equipment that can be used by both robot and human.
Moley can save up to 5,000 recipes in its system and has two robot hands which can perform simple tasks such as fetch items from the smart fridge, adjust cooking temperatures and use the sink to fill pans. Using sensors at the end of its arms, the robot can judge the pressure needed to ensure the correct hold of objects and ingredients.
However, it isn’t just the robot that impressed Gitex visitors, as the smart appliances in the kitchen are equally impressive. The smart fridge has the capability to inform users when the shelf life of a product is about to expire, as well as maintain an optimum temperature for different types of ingredients stored inside. It also has a smart storage system that can inform users when a specific product is about to run out.
In terms of design, the kitchen is currently available in only two options: luxury and modern. The luxury kitchen features Corian worktops, ebony lacquered panels and Patagonian marble kitchen island top. The modern design has more contemporary finishes using ceramic or Corian worktops, and panels in shades such as smoked eucalyptus. The Moley kitchen is also available with or without the robotic hands.
The project is the brainchild of Mark Oleynik, chief executive and founder of Moley Robotics, and has been in development for six years.
“Food is the basis of a good quality of life — we need proper nutrition. My goal is to make people’s lives better, healthier, and happier,” Oleynik says in a blog post by the Moley Robotics team.
“After multiple cycles of development and testing, we transformed the concept prototype into a complex fully functioning product that’s ready for consumer use,” the post adds.
“A talented team of more than 100 engineers from a variety of world-class robotics companies applied the latest technologies. They have been supported by a team of interior and kitchen designers who completed the look of the kitchen with a combination of stylish form and exquisite materials resulting in the final, elegant look.”
The company has announced that future updates include being able to sync the kitchen to a smartphone so that users can operate it remotely, for example, setting it to cook dinner while coming home from work.
Currently the kitchen is only available for delivery in the EU, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Norway and Russia. However, there are plans to expand to North America. It's not known yet if or when Moley will be available in the UAE.
How Alia's experiment will help humans get to Mars
Alia’s winning experiment examined how genes might change under the stresses caused by being in space, such as cosmic radiation and microgravity.
Her samples were placed in a machine on board the International Space Station. called a miniPCR thermal cycler, which can copy DNA multiple times.
After the samples were examined on return to Earth, scientists were able to successfully detect changes caused by being in space in the way DNA transmits instructions through proteins and other molecules in living organisms.
Although Alia’s samples were taken from nematode worms, the results have much bigger long term applications, especially for human space flight and long term missions, such as to Mars.
It also means that the first DNA experiments using human genomes can now be carried out on the ISS.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
United States beat Scotland by 35 runs
UAE v Scotland – no result
United States beat UAE by 98 runs
Scotland beat United States by four wickets
Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham
Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate
Final: June 1, Madrid
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
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Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Thanksgiving meals to try
World Cut Steakhouse, Habtoor Palace Hotel, Dubai. On Thursday evening, head chef Diego Solis will be serving a high-end sounding four-course meal that features chestnut veloute with smoked duck breast, turkey roulade accompanied by winter vegetables and foie gras and pecan pie, cranberry compote and popcorn ice cream.
Jones the Grocer, various locations across the UAE. Jones’s take-home holiday menu delivers on the favourites: whole roast turkeys, an array of accompaniments (duck fat roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in beef bacon, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots) and more, as well as festive food platters, canapes and both apple and pumpkin pies.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Address Hotel, Dubai. This New Orleans-style restaurant is keen to take the stress out of entertaining, so until December 25 you can order a full seasonal meal from its Takeaway Turkey Feast menu, which features turkey, homemade gravy and a selection of sides – think green beans with almond flakes, roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole and bread stuffing – to pick up and eat at home.
The Mattar Farm Kitchen, Dubai. From now until Christmas, Hattem Mattar and his team will be producing game- changing smoked turkeys that you can enjoy at home over the festive period.
Nolu’s, The Galleria Mall, Maryah Island Abu Dhabi. With much of the menu focused on a California inspired “farm to table” approach (with Afghani influence), it only seems right that Nolu’s will be serving their take on the Thanksgiving spread, with a brunch at the Downtown location from 12pm to 4pm on Friday.
England's lowest Test innings
- 45 v Australia in Sydney, January 28, 1887
- 46 v West Indies in Port of Spain, March 25, 1994
- 51 v West Indies in Kingston, February 4, 2009
- 52 v Australia at The Oval, August 14, 1948
- 53 v Australia at Lord's, July 16, 1888
- 58 v New Zealand in Auckland, March 22, 2018
Scores
New Zealand 266 for 9 in 50 overs
Pakistan 219 all out in 47.2 overs
New Zealand win by 47 runs
Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
The Orwell Prize for Political Writing
Twelve books were longlisted for The Orwell Prize for Political Writing. The non-fiction works cover various themes from education, gender bias, and the environment to surveillance and political power. Some of the books that made it to the non-fiction longlist include:
- Appeasing Hitler: Chamberlain, Churchill and the Road to War by Tim Bouverie
- Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me by Kate Clanchy
- Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez
- Follow Me, Akhi: The Online World of British Muslims by Hussein Kesvani
- Guest House for Young Widows: Among the Women of ISIS by Azadeh Moaveni