Robotics Intervention in Food Processing Industries: A Mini Review

Abstract

The food manufacturing industry, that is both diversified and fragmented, plays a crucial role in economies of all the nations. This review is an approach to provide comprehensive knowledge about the status of use of robots in food processing industries. With advancement in powerful, precise and quick robots, automation has been helping in performing industrial operations rapidly. There are number of modern robotics systems employed in food industries, and they are mostly geared toward the high-volume, long workability and handling single-product line but now emphasis is given on multifunctionality of robots by developing replaceable grippers. The shortage of labours due to young people leaving their nation for better job opportunities in developed or high-income countries, and also in pandemic like situation, this had opened the doors for exploring other options for laborious tasks in important sectors like food processing industry. If robots would be used at larger extent in food processing industry at full capacity, in addition to boosting output, it has the potential to safeguard food supplies in unprecedented circumstances and beyond.