What is KettyBot? Everything UAE Restaurants Need to Know
A plain-language guide for UAE restaurant owners and managers — what KettyBot actually does, where it fits in your operation, and whether it makes sense for your venue.
If you have seen a robot gliding between tables in a restaurant — carrying dishes, greeting guests, or returning used trays to the kitchen — there is a good chance it was a KettyBot. Made by Pudu Robotics, one of the world's leading service robot manufacturers, KettyBot has become one of the most widely deployed restaurant robots in the world. It is readily available in the UAE through RoboHub.
This guide answers the questions UAE restaurant and hospitality operators actually ask: what it does, what it cannot do, what it costs to consider, and whether it fits your specific operation.
What is KettyBot?
KettyBot is an autonomous delivery and service robot designed for restaurants, hotels, cafes, and hospitality venues. It moves independently through your space, navigating around customers, furniture, and staff without requiring tracks, tape on the floor, or any infrastructure changes.
At its core, it does two things: it brings food and dishes from the kitchen to the table, and it takes used trays back. It also carries a 10.1-inch interactive screen on its front that can display your brand, promotions, or a simple greeting — giving it a dual role as a delivery assistant and a guest-facing display.
KettyBot is not a gimmick. It is a working piece of service infrastructure, built for venues that deal with high table turnover, labour cost pressure, or simply want their human staff spending more time on service and less on carrying plates.
How KettyBot works
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1Mapping your venue. When first set up, KettyBot builds a map of your floor plan using its sensors. This takes a few hours and is done by the RoboHub team during installation. After that, it knows every table, corridor, and obstacle in your space.
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2Receiving a delivery task. Staff place dishes on one or more of the four trays and assign a table number, either through a simple touchpad interface or an integrated POS connection. KettyBot sets off immediately.
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3Navigating to the table. Using lidar sensors and real-time obstacle detection, KettyBot moves through your floor, slowing or rerouting when a customer steps in front of it, and announcing its arrival at the table with a gentle sound or voice prompt.
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4Confirming delivery. A staff member or the customer takes the dish from the tray. KettyBot waits briefly, then returns to the kitchen or service station on its own — or continues to the next table if it has multiple deliveries queued.
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5Return and recharge. KettyBot automatically returns to its charging dock when the battery runs low and resumes duty once charged. A full charge runs up to 12 hours of continuous use — a full restaurant shift.
Key features
Four stacked trays with a total capacity of 40 kg. Deliver to up to four tables in a single run, cutting trips back and forth significantly.
Display your brand logo, daily specials, promotions, or a welcome message. The screen faces guests and is visible on approach.
Lidar-based mapping and real-time obstacle avoidance. No floor tape, no fixed tracks, no infrastructure changes to your venue.
Announces arrival at the table and plays customisable audio — a greeting, a notification tone, or a brand message — keeping guests aware without startling them.
What KettyBot does — and what it does not
One of the most common misunderstandings restaurants have before buying a service robot is expecting it to replace their entire service team. KettyBot is a delivery assist tool — it handles the physical logistics of moving food from the kitchen to the table. That is its job.
- It does not take orders from guests (a staff member or a tablet handles that)
- It does not serve or plate food at the table — a staff member still takes the dish off the tray and places it in front of the guest
- It does not handle payments or upselling
- It does not manage complaints or unusual requests
What it does free up is the constant back-and-forth between the kitchen and the floor. In a busy venue with high table turnover, a single KettyBot can handle a significant share of the delivery workload — letting your staff focus on the guest interactions that actually build loyalty.
Where KettyBot fits in UAE hospitality
KettyBot works across a range of venue types. The question is not whether it can work in your restaurant — it almost certainly can — but where the return is clearest.
High table turnover, consistent orders. KettyBot shines here — frequent runs, busy floor, and guests who enjoy the experience.
Breakfast buffets, all-day dining, and room service corridors. Reduces staff pressure during peak meals without impacting the hotel's service image.
High foot traffic, large floor areas. KettyBot draws attention, reduces runner fatigue, and creates a talking point in a crowded F&B environment.
Used carefully, KettyBot handles heavy or high-volume deliveries (large sharing platters, tray returns) while trained staff retain guest-facing roles.
Speed-focused venues benefit from the multi-tray system — batch deliveries to multiple tables in a single run.
Internal delivery from prep to packing stations. Reduces cross-kitchen movement and frees kitchen staff for prep work.
KettyBot key specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Pudu Robotics (Shenzhen, China) |
| Delivery trays | 4 trays |
| Load capacity | 10 kg per tray / 40 kg total |
| Display screen | 10.1-inch touchscreen (front-facing) |
| Navigation | Lidar + depth camera, real-time obstacle avoidance |
| Battery life | Up to 12 hours per charge |
| Charging | Automatic return to dock when low |
| Speed | Up to 1.2 m/s (adjustable) |
| Multi-robot | Yes — multiple units can share the same map |
| Setup requirement | Initial floor mapping only; no tracks or floor modifications |
| UAE availability | Through RoboHub, Dubai — showroom available |
Getting KettyBot in the UAE
KettyBot is readily available through RoboHub, based in Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road. We handle everything from demo to deployment: delivery, floor mapping, staff training, and after-sales support.
Common questions from UAE operators
What happens if a guest blocks its path?
KettyBot detects obstacles in real time and will slow, stop, and wait, or find an alternate route. It does not push through crowds. In very narrow or heavily congested spaces, RoboHub will assess the floor plan during the trial to confirm it is a good fit.
How long does setup take?
Initial floor mapping and installation typically takes half a day. Staff training is straightforward — most teams are comfortable with KettyBot within a few hours of it being live.
What if something goes wrong after purchase?
RoboHub provides after-sales support including remote diagnostics, support ticketing, and on-site assistance where needed. Annual maintenance contracts are also available.