Chipotle is testing avocado peeling robots

Chipotle has a new robot called the Autocado whose main job is to peel avocados. The prototype machine cuts, peels, and cubes avocados before employees mash them up for guacamole, a process Chipotle is describing as using cobots (collaborative robots).

The company says the robot being tested at a store located at 20972 Magnolia Street in Huntington Beach, California, will help free up employees for other tasks. According to Chipotle, the “size agnostic” Avocado machine can peel and seed an avocado in under 26 seconds.

Chipotle says it invested money from a $100 million venture fund in both companies it partnered with on two new systems — Webu for Autocados and Hyphen to help build its new augmented makeshift line.

The makeline it's testing at the Corona del Mar, California store (3050 East Coast Highway) uses automated technology to create bowls and salads for customers on a line underneath the general preparation area. The company says “about 65 percent of all Chipotle digital orders are bowls or salads.” (Heartiest condolences to customers whose favorite burrito bowl-making employee has heavy guacamole on hand — it'll still be extra.)