MUNICH, GERMANY—The future of urban food service has arrived, miniaturized and fully automated. Munich-based startup Circus SE has officially launched its flagship autonomous robotic restaurant, the CA-1, a machine capable of preparing up to 120 meals per hour within a compact footprint of just 6.6 square meters (about 71 sq. ft.).
The CA-1, described as the world’s first industrial-scale, fully autonomous food production robot, is now entering real-world deployment, with pilot locations opening in high-traffic areas like supermarkets and enterprise offices in Germany. The robot’s debut marks a significant step toward solving major industry challenges such as labor shortages, inconsistent quality, and food waste.
The system’s intelligence is powered by its proprietary operating system, CircusOS. This AI-native platform acts as the brain, fusing robotics, software, and culinary science to achieve flawless meal consistency and operational efficiency:
Real-time Optimization: CircusOS continuously monitors factors like temperature, timing, and workflow during the cooking process.
Adaptive Learning: The system uses real-time data analysis and predictive models to refine recipes and optimize demand, which helps to ensure ingredient quality and minimize food waste.
End-to-End Automation: The robot handles every step autonomously, from tracking the inventory in its 36 ingredient silos to precision cooking with induction pots and automated plating. A self-cleaning system further ensures low-maintenance operation and high hygiene standards.
The CA-1 has a capacity to produce up to 500 dishes per ingredient load and prepares a meal in as little as three to four minutes.
Early deployments, including one at a REWE supermarket in Düsseldorf and another at Meta’s Munich office, demonstrate the CA-1’s versatility across different sectors, including:
Retail & Mobility: Providing fresh, on-demand meals 24/7 in supermarkets, airports, and train stations.
Hospitality & Care: Delivering personalized, hygienic meals in hospitals and elderly care facilities, adapting menus for specific dietary needs (e.g., diabetic or lactose-free dishes) through its AI.
Circus SE anticipates that this technology will not only cut energy use and streamline supply chain management but fundamentally reshape the economics of urban food services globally.
