Man has long wanted automation in food preparation as seen in this clip from the 1968 movie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, of a Breakfast Machine.
McDonalds held a promotional event in Boston for what they call a “Big Mac ATM”. The machine created 2 different versions of the Big Mac for free. There was no need for any employee to cook the burger. The machine did it all.

Not to be outdone by Boston, McDonald’s Europe says it’s planning on “hiring” 7,000 “touch-screen cashiers” across the continent.
Wendy’s also said it plans to start installing self-serve kiosks later this year in 6,000+ locations.

However, don’t think for a minute that burgers are the only things ATMs can dispense:

• There’s already talk about chicken nugget ATMs.
• Ohio’s Xavier University has pizza ATMs, with more schools and businesses are interested in the machines. The company which manufactures the $30,000 Pizza Box expects to sell 2,500 machines in 2017.
• Canada’s Simon Fraser University has sushi ATMs. Robots are rolling California rolls for $3.00. The daily sushi special is $5.00.
• Burritobox ATMs can be found mainly along America’s coastlines.

“Automation is coming whether we want it to come or not,” Andy Puzder, CEO of CKE Restaurants Inc. (which owns Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr.), said.
“It’s everywhere. It’s in everything.”

Eric Cawley is an occasional blogger for Gary Stringham & Associates. Gary provides consulting and expert witness services in embedded systems such as robotics. Feel free to contact Gary at 208-939-6984.