푸드테크 스타트업 로닉(Ronik) has been recognized for its technological capabilities after being selected as a promising startup supported by Samsung Electronics’ startup incubation program “Samsung Electronics C-Lab (hereinafter C-Lab),” and has also drawn attention at “CES 2026,” the world’s largest home appliance and IT exhibition, with its proprietary Physical AI solution “AI Dispenser.” Sustained interest from global F&B companies and robotics industry officials has once again served to validate Ronik’s technological capabilities.


Ronik set up a booth within the Samsung Electronics C-Lab exhibition area at Eureka Park, the startup exhibition hall of CES 2026 held in Las Vegas, USA, from January 6 to 9 (local time). A total of 15 C-Lab startups, including Ronik, showcased innovative technologies and services across various fields such as AI, robotics, and digital health at this venue.

In particular, Ronik drew attention at CES 2026 by unveiling its core technology, the AI Dispenser, and presenting new possibilities for automation in food preparation and manufacturing processes. When ingredients are loaded, the AI Dispenser automatically recognizes and analyzes their size, shape, and flow characteristics through cameras and multimodal sensors attached to the device, which measure weight, temperature, and other variables. Based on the collected data, AI controls the dispenser’s operation in real time, precisely weighing ingredients to the target amount and dispensing them automatically. It also immediately calculates and provides ingredient cost and nutritional information based on actual usage. It effectively serves as an “all-purpose robot” that can always maintain the same standard regardless of the user’s skill level.

CEO Oh Jin-hwan explained, “The AI Dispenser enables precise dosing and dispensing to a consistent standard at all times by recognizing and analyzing ingredient characteristics in real time through multimodal sensing and Physical AI-based control, and by automatically adjusting the discharge operation.”


On the first day of CES 2026, Ryu Je-myeong, Second Vice Minister of Science and ICT, visited the Ronik booth. CEO Oh Jin-hwan personally demonstrated the AI Dispenser and sequentially introduced four technologies: ▲vision recognition ▲model learning ▲automatic portioning ▲Physical AI mode.

The AI Dispenser’s vision recognition function analyzes the physical properties of ingredients in real time and generates optimized data. Model learning controls operations based on the collected data and performs autonomous learning of parameters. In the case of automatic portioning, it uses the trained AI model to handle ultra-precise, user-customized portioning. Finally, the Physical AI function can be described as a next-generation foodtech system that adapts to environmental changes and continuously evolves. As a result, a wide range of investors from Korea and overseas, as well as officials from global F&B and robotics companies, expressed interest in Ronik.

CEO Oh Jin-hwan said, “At CES 2026, it became clear that officials at global F&B companies also feel the need for automated cooking robots due to labor shortages and high inflation. They were actively asking when Ronik’s products could be introduced,” adding, “Ronik feels a strong sense of responsibility for the business it is pursuing and will do its best to accelerate global expansion.”


Ronik has earned positive evaluations since developing “Cube,” a food manufacturing and cooking automation robot solution that combines Physical AI with robotics technology. Cube is highly favored in the institutional catering, foodservice, and food manufacturing markets, which face a range of issues including labor shortages, quality variance, and food waste management. Whereas existing cooking robots have mainly focused on cooking processes such as boiling or stir-frying according to fixed recipes, Cube has expanded the scope of cooking automation by implementing a system that automates ingredient portioning, loading, and precise weighing.

Cube is significant in that it enables robots to replace processes from ingredient preparation—previously regarded as a difficult area to automate—to ingredient loading. According to Ronik, the company has been collecting long-term data on ingredient properties such as texture, viscosity, and flow patterns since its early days, and has combined this with AI technology to solve the core challenge of cooking automation: controlling unstructured ingredients. By accurately predicting and correcting the flow characteristics of various ingredients, the company has also improved the accuracy and consistency of cooking robots.


In this way, Ronik’s solutions are regarded as a practical alternative in the institutional catering industry, where labor shortages, high work intensity, and labor cost burdens persist structurally. Each Cube set automates around 60–80% of the cooking, portioning, and serving processes, generating staffing reduction effects equivalent to about one to three workers. In addition, by providing function updates tailored to customer requirements, Ronik is enhancing on-site satisfaction. The company was also selected in 2025 as a member of the 7th cohort of Samsung Electronics C-Lab Outside, through which it strengthened product competitiveness by conducting proof-of-concept (PoC) projects related to catering automation and advancing its technology.

Going forward, Ronik plans to expand AI-based cooking automation solutions optimized for institutional catering and foodservice sites. The company also intends to actively seek PoC and partnership opportunities in global markets to further enhance its technological competitiveness.

IT Donga, reporter Park Gui-im (luckyim@itdonga.com)

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