The traditional fast food business model just never had a chance, now did it? Marcelo Coelho and Amit Zoran, a pair of whiz kids doing their thang over at
MIT, have developed what very well may be the next major revolution in food preparation. It may also be the only machine that keeps you alive when the
Robot Apocalypse goes down, but we'll try to stuff that to the rear of our minds for now. Essentially, the Cornucopia concept is a 3D printer that precisely mixes foods and flavors from a number of canisters in order to produce something that's edible (and supposedly close to what you ordered). Able to deliver "elaborate combinations of food," the machine also has a rapid heating and cooling chamber that purportedly allows for "the creation of flavors and textures that would be completely unimaginable through other cooking techniques." Color us skeptical, but we're guessing these government-issued MREs probably taste just as good -- guess we'll find out for sure if the project ever gets its date with reality.
posted January 21st 2010 11:16AM
one step closer to the star trek replicator.
@Reaper21x Earl Grey, hot.
@Reaper21x
It will produce a hot, nourishing beverage almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea.
@thaprinze Beat me to it.
@Reaper21x I wonder if it does this when the food is ready.
@Reaper21x I wonder if it does this:
http://www.trekkieguy.com/soundfx/misc10.wav
when the food is ready.
@Reaper21x
Actually I think this is the practical scientific application of those times you mixed all the condiments in the fridge together and then tried to eat it.
@thaprinze Just let me know when it comes out blue so I know when to start singing.
@Reaper21x
Copycat's, everyone knows this is how they've been making hot pockets for years.
MREs should not be used as an emergency ration in the sense that you're thinking. They tend to block you up, if you know what I'm saying. They do so significantly, sometimes for days on end. This is not necessarily bad if you're in the field (such as a military unit on a specific mission), but if you're trying to eat during an extended power outage or something in your house, you're far better off with freeze-dried food. Just make sure you have plenty of water and a heat source in order to reconstitute the freeze-dried food. Freeze-dried generally offers better tasting options compared to dehydrated food.
@paul34 Never had that problem. I like MRE's. Taste way better than that freeze dried crap.
@paul34 The MRE's have no exit strategy.
@wjousts
ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111111111!111!!!!11ono1!!one
So... the soylent green needs to be ground up first, or it needs to be in a paste?
@Philippe am i the only one who thought of the machine from Cloudy with a chance of meatballs? "CHEEEZZBURGER"
At what point does it mix in Bender's secret Ingredient?
Who cares if it makes delicious food- I'd buy one because it looks cool- and then it would gather dust in my basement with my bread maker and motorized pasta machine.
@RyanLN Motorized Pizza machines would rock, so need that for my basement.
Do they need taste testers?
(licks chops thinking of printed bacon)
@cdsfire
+1
I think you really have to have a really liberal definition of the word "food" in order to include this crap in it.
So we can combine this with a RepRap and get cogs made out of ham?
Ya, that's great, but what happens when the food overmutates and becomes sentient? Uh Oh!
We'd like to order 10,000 units. Do you accept Discover?
Sincerely,
Taco Bell
Seems like we're getting closer to Star Trek: TNG tech on a daily basis. Now, if we could only get the creator's original vision of world peace an harmony down.
@iFester
Take note: It took a nuclear world war plus meeting Vulcans to get world peace in the Star Trek universe.
We are inching ever so closer to the first and a long way from the latter if you know what I mean. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to deduct the first outcome just by looking at the world right now.
Anyhow, this is pretty impressive tech. First 3D displays, tomorrow Holodeck. First 3D printers, tomorrow inorganic replicators. First food printers, tomorrow organic replicators.
Sadly, the way we are currently, such tech would only be for the rich and the who-can-afford-it types.
@iFester
Take note: It took a nuclear world war plus meeting Vulcans to get
world peace in the Star Trek universe.
We are inching ever so closer to the first and a long way from the
latter if you know what I mean. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to
deduct the first outcome just by looking at the world right now.
Anyhow, this is pretty impressive tech. First 3D displays, tomorrow
Holodeck. First 3D printers, tomorrow inorganic replicators. First
food printers, tomorrow organic replicators.
Sadly, the way we are currently, such tech would only be for the rich
and the who-can-afford-it types.
I'd like a chemical burger please. With a side of formula fries.
Print me a sammich
@sip
i think you mean "sudo print me a sandwich"...
Forecast: cloudy... with a chance of meatballs
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According to the website it's in the "Just started" phase of development.
So... "whiz kids" make a simplistic general 3d model of a never to be created imitation of a TNG replicator dreamt up 10 years ago and get amazing media attention. Interesting.
Science fiction is nice, but only when there is equal part science to fiction. No tech specs, no real hard concept data... Just fiction.
These people are whizzes... at marketing :)
Whiz kids = +1
Engadget credibility: -1
"Tea. Earl Grey. Hot."
If it can't do that, I'm not interested.
We can finally get rid of pesky drive thru employees who always get my order wrong! :)
It may not exist yet, but I like where they're going with this. The Average Joe won't be able to buy one at Best Buy or Walmart for a another 6-10 years. 3D printing hasn't even hit the retail market yet, but I'm excited (and frightened) to see what regular people do with it when it does.
Yes, it's the birth of The Replicator from Star Trek. However, I'm still skeptical about what the actual food will look like when it's done.
Call me crazy, or did Chef Cantu already do this years ago?
@Engadget
You'd trust a MACHINE like this during the Robot Apocalypse?!
So... edible and tasty...
I'll assume there's no nutritional value to it yet. Not even some basic protein or something. Eventually...
I wonder if you can install this into a helmet?
This thing is going to be a BITCH to clean.
Tasty Idea, and I second the idea that it will be a turd to clean, unless you can get you Asimo to do it for you~
Why am I seeing this used for nefarious purposes like making drugs?
1 part coke
2 Ecstasy pills
1 acid drop
1/2 vile of K
1/4 oz heroin
and sprinkle some meth
Voila! This shit here. This shit here. This shit is called death!
"No," he said, "look, it's very, very simple ... all I want ... is a cup of tea. You are going to make one for me. Keep quiet and listen." And he sat.
He told the Cornucopia about India, he told it about China, he told it about Ceylon. He told it about broad leaves drying in the sun. He told it about silver teapots. He told it about summer afternoons on the lawn. He told it about putting in the milk before the tea so it wouldn't get scalded. He even told it (briefly) about the history of the East India Company.
"So that's it, is it?" said the Cornucopia when he had finished.
"Yes," said Arthur, "that is what I want."
"You want the taste of dried leaves in boiled water?"
"Er, yes. With milk."
"Squirted out of a cow?"
"Well, in a manner of speaking I suppose ..."
If those canisters cost the same as Canon inkjet cartridges, I'll starve.
@blurnk lol
Hi honey, I'm home... What's for dinner?
Sorry, sweety... Printer jam... I'll call Dominos again.
Hmm... reminds me of something else.
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/taco_bells_new_green_menu_takes
this is what there going to use to keep us alive when the machines are "growing humans" =(