Chipotle rolls out new robot called Autocado to take on avocados
Chipotle Introduces Autocado, a Robot That Could Slice Avocado Twice as Fast
Mexican grill chain Chipotle is testing a new robot called Autocado that aims to prepare avocados at twice the speed of human workers. The robot is designed to slice, core, and peel avocados, while humans will still be responsible for mashing the fruit and adding other ingredients. Autocado can hold up to 25 pounds of avocados at once. The prototype is currently being tested at the Chipotle Cultivate Center in Irvine, California, with plans to introduce the device in restaurants later this year.
Chipotle partnered with robotics company Vebu to develop Autocado. Certified training managers from Chipotle worked with Vebu to teach the robot how avocados are prepared before being served to customers. The collaboration aims to drive efficiency and make the process less labor-intensive for employees.
“We are committed to exploring collaborative robotics to drive efficiencies and ease pain points for our employees,” said Curt Garner, Chipotle’s chief customer and technology officer. He further added that while Autocado lightens the intensive labor of avocado preparation, the essential culinary experience of hand mashing and preparing the guacamole to Chipotle’s standards will still be maintained.
Currently, it takes around 50 minutes to make a batch of guacamole at Chipotle. The goal is to reduce the preparation time by half with the help of Autocado. The robot has the potential to work alongside Chipotle crew members, creating the same delicious guacamole more efficiently than ever before, according to Vebu CEO Buck Jordan.
Chipotle anticipates serving 4.5 million cases of avocados this year, equivalent to over 100 million pounds of fruit.
FAQs:
Q: What is Autocado?
A: Autocado is a robot developed by Chipotle in collaboration with robotics company Vebu. The robot is designed to slice, core, and peel avocados for the preparation of guacamole.
Q: Where is Autocado being tested?
A: The Autocado prototype is currently being tested at the Chipotle Cultivate Center in Irvine, California.
Q: When will Autocado be introduced in restaurants?
A: Chipotle plans to introduce Autocado in restaurants later this year.
Q: How much avocado can Autocado hold?
A: Autocado can hold up to 25 pounds of avocados at once.
Q: Will Autocado replace human workers?
A: No, Autocado is intended to work alongside Chipotle crew members and assist in making the guacamole preparation process more efficient.
Q: How many avocados does Chipotle anticipate serving this year?
A: Chipotle expects to serve 4.5 million cases of avocados, which is over 100 million pounds of fruit.
Chipotle unveils Autocado, its latest robot to tackle the avocado challenge
In a move to increase efficiency and speed up the preparation process, Chipotle is testing a new robot called Autocado that can slice, core, and peel avocados at a rate twice as fast as human workers. The robot, created in partnership with robotics company Vebu, can hold up to 25 pounds of avocados at once. After the avocados are loaded into the device by a worker, they are mashed and combined with other ingredients by human hands.
Currently being tested at the Chipotle Cultivate Center in Irvine, California, the company plans to introduce the robot to its restaurants later this year. Certified training managers from Chipotle worked with Vebu to teach the robot how to properly prep avocados, a process that usually takes around 50 minutes to complete.
Chipotle expects Autocado to significantly reduce the time required to make guacamole by cutting it in half. The restaurant chain is known for its dedication to fresh ingredients, and while the robot can handle the initial steps, the final steps of hand-mashing and preparing the guacamole will still be done by human workers to maintain the authentic Chipotle experience.
According to Chipotle’s chief customer and technology officer, Curt Garner, the introduction of collaborative robotics like Autocado is part of the company’s commitment to improving efficiencies and alleviating burdens for its employees.
The robot has the potential to enhance the production of the delicious guacamole that Chipotle fans love, said Vebu CEO Buck Jordan. Chipotle plans to serve 4.5 million cases of avocados this year, equivalent to over 100 million pounds of fruit. With Autocado, the company hopes to meet this demand while boosting productivity.
Overall, the introduction of Autocado represents Chipotle’s dedication to exploring innovative technologies to enhance their operations and improve the customer experience.