Development of an Automated Shipboard Food System

In Phase I, Foster-Miller has designed an automated shipboard food preparation and service system that utilizes scratch, precooked or frozen advanced foods. The system employs robotic pickers to load trays of frozen items (i.e. entr¿e, vegetable, andstarch) into ovens, and then deposits the cooked foods into a service/warming station for self-serve by the sailors. Cooking from scratch can be eliminated, and scullery operations are reduced (no pots or pans used to produce meal), resulting in areduction in labor requirements of approximately 67%. Shipboard business processes are improved through the real-time information provided by the system (meal choice, inventory status). Data are sent to the shipboard information systems, facilitatingbetter meal planning, historical knowledge of sailor preferences, more efficient purchasing and inventory control. In Phase II, an automated food service system will be designed, constructed, and tested for the DDG51. This same system will be used as abasis for the forward-fit needs (engineering development) of the DD(X). Foster-Miller will partner with DD(X) Gold Team (NGSS Ingalls Operation), Natick Soldier Center (NSC), and NSWCCD-SSES to ensure that the Navy's requirements are met in the Phase IIprogram. (P-030060) Commercial applications for an automated food service system include industrial, commercial, and institutional cafeterias, and also fast-food type restaurants. A breakdown of cost-of-operation of a commercial cafeteria shows that thedominant cost is labor. The concept of an unmanned automated cafeteria is very attractive, particularly in situations where the total number of occupants will not support a manned facility. The automated food service system offers a new market for foodservice companies in small-to-midsize companies.