Researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) and the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT-Italian Institute of Technology) along with pastry chefs and food scientists from EHL in Lausanne have jointly developed an edible robot dubbed RoboCake.

RoboCake, which takes the shape of a wedding cake, features two gummy robotic bears — composed of gelatin, syrup and colorants — that are animated by an internal pneumatic system, which moves their arms and heads when air is injected through dedicated pathways. The RoboCake is also comprised of edible dark chocolate batteries, composed of vitamin B2, quercetin, activated carbon and chocolate, for powering the candles.

Source: EPFL/IIT/EHL

Developed as part of the RoboFood project, RobotCake was created to demonstrate that edible robots and intelligent food are possible.

"Robotics and food are two separate worlds," the researchers explained. "However, merging them offers many advantages, particularly in terms of limiting electronic waste and food waste."

One possible application for edible robots might be the potential delivery of emergency nutrition, the researchers suggest.

"Edible robots could be used to deliver food to endangered areas, to deliver medicines in innovative ways to people who have difficulty swallowing or to animals, or even to monitor food and its freshness using sensors that can be eaten."