Technology
BurgerBots opens 1st restaurant, ready to expand
The entire process takes just 27 seconds per burger.
April 29, 2025 by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
BurgerBots, which uses two robots created by ABB Robotics to "assemble meals with precision and speed," opened its first location Tuesday in Los Gatos, California, and is gearing up for expansion.
"The vision was to bring consistency, transparency, and efficiency to food service," said BurgerBots founder Elizabeth Truong, who sees the Los Gatos location as the first step in a broader commercial rollout.
"For restaurant owners, it means better visibility of food costs, more accurate forecasting and — ultimately — better decision making," she said in a company press release.
Integrating ABB robots with the BurgerBots restaurant concept demonstrates the potential for automation beyond the factory floor, said Marc Segura, president of ABB Robotics Division.
"The food service industry is dynamic and demanding, and our technology brings industrial-grade consistency, efficiency and reliability to this space," he said in the release. "When we asked the hospitality industry, 89% of managers and 73% of workers said they are open to the integration of robotics to automate tasks within their operations. By taking over repetitive and time-consuming tasks, robots allow staff to focus on what matters most — creating memorable dining experiences."
Although the companies would not comment on the price of the robots, the ABB technology is now available for other brands, and Truong believes that most restaurants will have some form of robotic automation over the next five years.
"Whether it's back-of-house preparation, assembly or even front-of-house service, it will become less of a novelty and more of a necessity," she said.
How it works
The entire process, which takes 27 seconds per burger, stars two robots — IRB 360 FlexPicker and YuMi, which features an intelligent inventory-monitoring system. As each order is received:
- A freshly cooked burger patty is placed onto a bun inside a burger box.
- The box is positioned on a conveyor shuttle, which is tagged with a QR code.
- As it moves along the conveyor, the IRB 360 FlexPicker hygienically performs high-speed topping selection, guided by the data stored in the QR code.
- The YuMi steps in to collaborate on the final assembly of the burger.
ABB's robot controller also integrates seamlessly with non-robotic systems, enabling real-time ingredient inventory tracking and ensuring smooth operations and efficient kitchen management, said Segura, who pointed out that one of the greatest challenges facing restaurant owners today is attracting and retaining staff.
"High turnover, rising labor costs, and the repetitive nature of back-of-house roles continue to put pressure on hospitality businesses," he said. "Automation presents an opportunity not just to fill labor gaps, but to make foodservice jobs more sustainable and appealing by reducing tedious tasks and improving workflows."
Supporting this shift in mindset, a recent survey commissioned by ABB Robotics found that 67% of hospitality workers agreed that robotics and automation should be used to reduce the amount of dull, dirty, dangerous work humans are doing in the hospitality industry. While 63% agreed that the idea of robotics making their job easier is exciting, 65% said they would welcome robots in their workplace if it meant a safer work environment.
BurgerBots is the latest in a number of innovations in the foodservice industry supported by robotic technology, Segura said. ABB's collaboration with RoboEatz on ARK, an autonomous robotic kitchen capable of preparing hundreds of meals with minimal human intervention, showcases the potential for high-efficiency, hygienic and customizable food prep. Meanwhile, ABB is powering Makr Shakr's robotic bartenders, that will soon be mixing drinks in venues around the world.
"Together, these applications demonstrate how robotics is transforming hospitality with speed and consistency," Segura said.
ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation employs 11,000 people at over 100 locations in approximately 53 countries.
About Cherryh Cansler
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