CHICAGO — Pudu Robotics has launched its BellaBot Pro, the next generation of its flagship smart-service robot, using AI to deliver personalized interactions to customers throughout their dining and retail experience. This new robot includes voice and greeting interaction, improved dish identification, an updated curve screen for advertising and enhanced safety and efficiency features.
Since its launch in 2019, BellaBot has been deployed in high-traffic environments by global brands such as PizzaHut, Jollibee, KFC and more. These companies use the robot to deliver orders, promote menu items and products and welcome guests.
The inclusion of a new 18.5-inch advertising screen is amplified by customizable options such as dynamic facial expressions, multimedia advertising, a variety of voice selections and an adaptable skin appearance, among others.
The robot features laser and vision fusion for simplified, sticker-free deployment, adaptable to a variety of environments, including those with high ceilings (up to 30 meters) and large areas (up to 200,000 square meters), reducing setup time by 75 per cent.
Additionally, its improved tray detection uses visual inspection (fisheye camera) to monitor tray status, allowing the robot to autonomously proceed to the next task once it detect that a customer has completed their self-service meal collection. The robot can also recognize dishes on the tray and provide introduction through voice broadcast, creating a new level of customer interaction. A new tray atmosphere light signals meal pickup, minimizing errors.
In the U.S., the restaurant industry is heavily investing in automation and AI to alleviate widespread labour shortages. By 2025, quick-service restaurants expect 51 per cent of tasks to be automated, while full-service restaurants predict 27 per cent.
“We’re at an automation and robotics tipping point across the economy. Pudu Robotics aims to develop robots which improve the efficiency of human production and living, and our service robots are used throughout the world,” says Felix Zhang, founder and CEO of Pudu Robotics. “BellaBot Pro’s AI and marketing capabilities represent a major step forward for Pudu and the robotics industry at large. We developed this latest version based on extensive customer feedback from our thousands of customers all over the world.”
