Chipotle Test "Autocado" Robot to Prep Avocados for Guac

Chipotle looks into automating the preparation of avocados for their guacamole with a test of the Autocado, "an avocado-processing robot prototype that cuts, cores, and peels avocados" before an employee hand-mashes them to make the chain's guacamole.

The prototype, developed in collaboration with Vebu, is currently being tested at the Chipotle Cultivate Center in Irvine, California. 

The Autocado has to be loaded manually and can hold up to 25 pounds of avocados. It processes the avocados one-by-one and delivers them into a stainless-steel bowl so that they can easily be taken and made into guacamole.

According to Chipotle, the Autocado could end up reducing guacamole prep time by 50%, freeing up employees for other tasks. Without the Autocado, it currently takes employees about 50 minutes to make a batch of guacamole.

The chain is also currently testing a robot called "Chippy" to automate tortilla chip-making.

Photo via Chipotle.