Modular robotic food preparation system and related methods

A method of robotically preparing food items in a commercial or restaurant kitchen having at least one kitchen appliance for cooking a food item, the method comprising:

• providing a main robotic cart, the main robotic cart comprising a robotic arm and shielded workspace;
• providing a plurality of discreet sub carts, each of said plurality of sub carts having a shielded workspace;
• arranging the main robotic cart and the plurality of sub carts around the main robotic cart and at least one kitchen appliance such that robotic arm can access and reach the at least one kitchen appliance and the shielded workspace of each sub cart;
• identifying and locating, with at least one camera, an ingredient from a temperature controlled bin in a first sub cart of the plurality of sub carts;
• picking, with the robotic arm, the ingredient from the temperature controlled bin from the first sub cart and transferring the ingredient to the kitchen appliance for cooking;
• cooking the ingredient;
• monitoring, with the robotic arm, the temperature of the ingredient during the cooking step;
• removing, with the robotic arm, the cooked food item from the kitchen appliance and transferring the cooked food item to a second sub cart of the plurality of carts;
• assembling, with the robotic arm, the cooked food item with other ingredients according to a customer order on the second sub cart to obtain a completed entrée;
• and
• storing, by transferring with the robotic arm, the completed order to a third sub cart of the plurality of sub carts for safe storage at a controlled temperature until pickup.

A modular robotic kitchen system for preparing food items in combination with at least on kitchen appliance in a commercial or restaurant kitchen, the modular robotic kitchen system comprising:

• a main kitchen module, the main kitchen module comprising a cart, a first robotic arm arranged on the cart, and a shielded workspace;
• a plurality of discrete sub modules arranged within the robotic arm's reach of the main kitchen module, the plurality of sub modules comprising:
• an ingredient unit comprising a cart, a shielded workspace, and a plurality of bins accessible by the robotic arm, and at least one temperature controlled bin;
• an assembly unit comprising a cart, a shielded workspace for putting raw and cooked ingredients together into an entrée or order;
• a packaging unit comprising a cart, a shielded workspace, and packaging materials to contain the completed entre or order;
• a pick-up unit comprising a cart, a shielded storage, and a plurality of shelves for holding the completed entre or order, and at least one temperature controlled area;
• and
• a central processor operable to compute and provide directions to the first robotic arm to prepare a completed order using the sub kitchen modules in combination with the kitchen appliance.