Chipotle Mexican Grill is working on a way to split the work of making guacamole between humans and machines.
The Newport Beach, California-based chain is partnering with an El Segundo, California-based company called Vebu Labs to develop a cobot, or collaborative robot, that can slice in half, core and peel avocados before a staff member takes over to mash them and prepare the guac.
The prototype robot is called Autocado, according to a news release, and it is being tested at Chipotle’s test kitchen in Irvine, according to a news release.