Many exhibitors at the Consumer Electronics Show employ entertainers, actors, and music to draw attendees to check out their new technology products and services. Wilkinson Baking Company is bringing new tech to CES 2019 that promises to be entertaining in its own right.
Wilkinson is set to unveil the Breadbot, a robotic, artisanal bread-making machine. CEO Randall Wilkinson says Breadbot is much more than a robot that pumps out loaves of bread. Bread making traditionally has had symbolic meaning and often an emotional aspect, and that’s what Breadbot elicits.
“Bread is a staple of American life. But in most supermarkets today, it has lost its emotional connection with the shopper,” said Wilkinson. “In the age of home delivery, the Breadbot attracts consumers back to the store because it delivers fresh, delicious bread that is produced with theater and engagement.”
The Breadbot isn’t a consumer device, the 22-square-foot base for sure won’t fit on your counter. The bread making machine creates up to 10 loaves of bread per hour from scratch and is destined for groceries and specialty shops.
Because most of Breadbot’s structure is transparent, Wilkinson expects CES attendees will be entranced watching the robotic mechanical components mix, form, proof, bake, and cool the bread.
The Breadbot can make bread from any recipe that starts with dry ingredients. The machine can make white, wheat, whole wheat, nine grain, sourdough, and honey oat bread, including organic varieties.
Bread making isn’t just about ingredients, cooking temperature, and time. Air temperature, humidity, and elevation all factor in the success of a perfectly cooked loaf. The Breadbot uses 20 sensors to monitor the baking process 100 times a second, according to the company, adjusting settings as needed.
The Breadbot starts with dry ingredients for up to 50 loaves of bread in a hopper. After the process starts, the first loaf of the day is ready to bag and sell as truly fresh-baked bread in 90 minutes. After that first loaf, new loaves exit the machine every six minutes. The maximum daily yield for a 24-hour day is 235 loaves, allow 30 minutes each day for self-cleaning with a human attendant assist.
Keep up with all the announcements and introductions at CES 2019 by following Digital Trends’ CES 2019 live coverage.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
Technology evolves every day, transforming how we live and work. Our devices are becoming more than tools we use. They are increasingly capable companions that help streamline day-to-day routines and spark creative ideas. If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your tech setup, the Discover Samsung Shopping Event offers an opportunity to explore what connected, AI-powered living can look like.
With AI progressing so fast, it's only a matter of time before we start getting AI companions like the ones we used to see in movies like R2-D2, Wall-E, or Baymax. Now, Singapore-based OKA Technology has unveiled Mori, a cute little AI companion that looks less like a conventional home robot and more like someone turned the Pokémon Foongus into a table lamp.
Mori isn't meant to clean your house or control your smart home, but to serve as what OKA calls a "Nature Companion." It uses subtle movements, warm lighting, nature-inspired sounds, and small reactions to make its presence around the house feel calming rather than distracting. Mori can sit quietly while you read, sway along to music, welcome you when you enter a room, or encourage you to slow down for a moment without requiring a screen or a conversation.
Quick Recap: Life with twins and a pile of bottles