Methods and systems for open-loop ignition of a smoke generator fuel source

A cooking system, comprising:

• a housing including a cooking chamber therein and a smoker box in fluidic communication with the cooking chamber, the smoker box comprising a fuel source and an igniter adjacent to the fuel source;
• at least one sensor;
• and
• a controller operably coupled to the igniter and the at least one sensor, the controller comprising a memory and a data processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory, which when executed cause the data processor to perform operations comprising
• receiving data characterizing an instruction activating the igniter, the instruction corresponding to a selection of an operating mode of the smoker box;
• determining, based on the data, a first amount of energy to be output by the igniter to ignite the fuel source;
• causing, based on the data, electric current to be conveyed to the igniter so as to activate the igniter to output the first amount of energy and ignite the fuel source;
• determining an amount of electric current conveyed to the igniter during a period of time the igniter is activated;
• determining a second amount of energy to be output by the igniter over the period of time the igniter is activated based on the determined amount of amount of electric current conveyed during the period of time the igniter is activated;
• determining whether the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy;
• and
• causing the igniter to deactivate based on determining the second amount of energy exceeds the first amount of energy.