A caterer in Anyang, Henan province, has invented a robot that can cook fried rice, Zhengzhou Evening News reported on Thursday.

The robot, which stands at 1.6 meters high, can cook fried rice itself within several minutes after ingredients like cooking oil, eggs and rice are put into a pan.

The inventor, Liu Yongjian, has been earning his living by running a catering business since he was laid-off from his full-time job with a corporation.

To improve his business, Liu made the robot, which cost thousands of yuan, after trial and error.

He sells the fried rice cooked by the robot outside the Anyang Normal University, and the robot has attracted many students.

"I plan to apply for a patent for my robot and provide the robot for other laid-off workers to help them start their own business," Liu was quoted by the Evening News as saying.