Chinese robotics company Galbot launched three 24-hour convenience stores staffed with humanoid robots in Hong Kong's Hung Hom, Wan Chai, and Kai Tak districts on September 1st. This marks the company's first venture outside mainland China. Customers can order through a kiosk screen and pay via card or electronic payment systems, then receive items directly from the robots, including buns, beverages, and local products.
The stores use Galbot's G1 humanoid robots, named Xiaogai. Standing 1.73 meters tall and weighing 92.5 kilograms, these robots can move at speeds of up to 1.5 meters per second and each arm can lift up to 5 kilograms. The robots can fluently communicate in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, and are capable of taking orders, delivering items, and preparing beverages from coffee machines.
On the opening day, the stores experienced some technical difficulties due to heavy rain and internet outages. Currently, they do not yet accept cash or Hong Kong Octopus cards. Galbot already operates robots in nearly 200 stores across approximately 50 cities in mainland China, and plans to open around 10 additional stores in Hong Kong.
Ref: Technology Innovation
