Pudu Robotics Launches KettyBot, a Delivery & Reception Robot

September 9, 2021

Pudu Robotics, which manufactures commercial service robots, has announced the global availability of KettyBot, the latest generation of its delivery and reception robot. The low-cost and high-efficiency system is equipped with a top-tier advertising display and artificial intelligence systems for delivering items to customers, such as high-traffic restaurants.

The compact size and forward-leaning C-shaped body of KettyBot allows it to traverse through a 55-cm minimum area, making it an ideal choice in complex and crowded environments, the company said. The KettyBot includes two models with removable trays and a rear cover, giving it more flexibility to perform tasks. Built-in PUDU SLAM multi-sensor technology with dual positioning and navigation, laser and visual, allows the robot to detect obstacles with more accuracy. In addition, accurate positioning and optimal path planning allow the robot to serve multiple tables in one run.

The KettyBot includes an 18.5-inch large ad screen that can adapt to the customer’s angle of view. The ad display can display promotional materials in a customized zone, providing a more eye-catching approach for marketing, Pudu said. The robot also includes AI voice interaction, which lets the KettyBot intelligently greet and interact with passing customers by waking up its screen. Pudu said this “cute and smart” approach is able to draw more attention than traditional approaches.

Why this matters Delivery robots within restaurants have yet to take off (at least here in the U.S.), which is odd due to the restaurant waitstaff labor shortages that robotics can certainly assist with. We suspect that issues around navigating obstacles in tight area is part of the issue, so it should be interesting to see if Pudu can scale these deployments.

The KettyBot automatically provides voice alerts and UI notifications when its battery is low, and it can return to the docking station simultaneously. Pudu said the robot has an ultralong battery life, with a capacity of 25.6Ah on a single charge it can last up to eight hours.

Pudu Robotics was founded in 2016, and is headquartered in Shenzhen, China. The company said it has sold tens of thousands of robots to more than 60 countries and regions, covering more than 600 cities around the world. In May 2021, the company completed a Series C round of financing for $78 million, a joint investment by Tencent, Meituan and Sequoia Capital China.

For more details, visit the Pudu Robotics website here.

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