Some chain restaurants are putting robots to the test to try and stay efficient.
Amid an increase in labor costs, some restaurants like Chipotle and Sweetgreen are utilizing robots more in certain areas to complete simple tasks and functions.
Hank Lewis is an Associate Professor of Economics at Lone Star College-University Park. He said robots aren't going to completely overtake the restaruant industry, but their role for some businesses will be significant.
"The mechanics and the computer programming involved with the robots is enough that certain basic functions normally done by human beings can be handled by about 80% by some sort of automated machines," Lewis said.
Lewis also mentioned a McDonald's located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that runs fully automated.
There are a number of reasons why restaurants are adding in automation. Lewis said the biggest reason is to reduce the number of humans that may be problematic in employement.
"Robots don't usually quit in the middle of a shift and walk out and never come back," he said. "Also, they don't bother the customers or cuss and won't call in sick."
The human element inside the restaurant can't be eliminated completely of course. Humans are still needed for maintenance of the robots and to make sure they are programmed and working properly.
Taking a restaurant like McDonald's for example, the business won't want a bunch of burger patties to get jammed up or there to be too much sauce or other condiments put on the burger by the robot so there needs to be a human on site just in case things break down or get off track.
"If something breaks down, you need to have someone local to handle it and handle it quickly or else your losing revenue," Lewis said.