Chipotle Mexican Grill is piloting robots to help prepare avocados for guacamole and create burrito bowls at two of its California restaurants.
The chain announced Tuesday that it is testing two machines in its restaurants for the first time, with the company seeking feedback from employees and customers before deciding whether to expand the technology to other Chipotle restaurants.
Called Autocado, the guacamole-making robot assistant can cut, seed and peel avocados in an average of 26 seconds, cutting the time it takes human workers to make guacamole in half. While the company’s human employees will still have to crush the fruit by hand, the technology could save them a lot of the work, as Chipotle plans to use about 5.2 million cases of avocados — the equivalent of 129.5 million pounds of fruit — this year at locations in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
A second collaborative robot, or “cobot,” called the Augmented Makeline, will use automated technology to make bowls and salads, which account for 65% of the chain’s digital orders, according to Chipotle. The automated assembly system disperses a set amount of each ingredient into an order. Chipotle said in July that it would train employees to ensure customers receive generous portions after a company survey confirmed that one in 10 restaurants were too thin with their portions.
“These cobotic devices “This could help us build a more powerful operational engine that delivers a great experience for our team members and customers while maintaining Chipotle’s high culinary standards,” said Curt Garner, Chipotle’s chief customer and technology officer.
The Autocado is now up and running at a Chipotle restaurant in Huntington Beach, Calif., while the Augmented Makeline is helping create bowls and salads for digital orders at a Chipotle restaurant in Corona del Mar, Calif. Nearly two-thirds of Chipotle’s digital orders are for bowls or salads, according to the company.
Chipotle developed the robots in collaboration with technology companies Vebu and Hyphen. The company operates more than 3,500 restaurants worldwide.
Other catering robots
Last year, salad chain Sweetgreen began testing automation in some food preparation after acquiring robotic kitchen startup Spyce.
Outside the kitchen, restaurant chains including Taco Bell are testing voice AI technology in drive-thru locations across the country, although McDonald’s has temporarily has ceased its use technology, with hamburger sales saying it has had mixed results.
