The DOBOT Nova 2 is a modern collaborative robot arm (cobot) specifically developed for gastronomy, retail, and customer-facing service applications. With a 2 kg payload, 625 mm reach, and a repeatability of ±0.05 mm, it combines precise industrial performance with a compact, design-oriented form factor. The Nova 2 is therefore the ideal foundation for automated coffee and beverage stations, self-service counters, snack and noodle stations, or service robot solutions in modern retail concepts.
In typical deployment scenarios, a single Nova cobot can process up to 500 cups of coffee or 300 bowls of noodles per day, taking over repetitive tasks that were previously performed entirely manually. In doing so, the Nova 2 supports operators of cafés, bars, restaurants, convenience stores, and retail spaces in relieving staff of burdens, standardizing processes, and simultaneously creating a modern customer experience.
Technical Highlights of the DOBOT Nova 2
The core of the DOBOT Nova 2 is a 6-axis cobot with a 2 kg payload, 625 mm working radius, and a repeatability of ±0.05 mm. Combined with a maximum TCP speed of 1.6 m/s and a net weight of only 11 kg, it is an exceptionally lightweight and flexible robot that can be easily installed on counters, in island stations, or on compact stands.
The IP54 rating protects the robot from dust and splashing water – an important factor for applications in the food and beverage industry. The Nova cobots are specified for a temperature range of 0–50 °C, which allows for trouble-free operation in air-conditioned indoor environments, shops, bars, showrooms, or laboratories.
Thanks to TCP/IP, Modbus TCP/RTU, RS485, and USB interfaces, as well as a compact control box (CCBOX) with 8 DI, 8 DO, AI, and AO channels, the Nova 2 can be seamlessly integrated into existing IT and automation landscapes – from POS systems to PLC. Developers can also utilize an extensive software base with DobotStudio Pro, CRStudio, and user guides for PC software and mobile apps.
Areas of Application: Gastronomy, Retail, Service & Light Industry
The primary target industry for the Nova 2 is the commercial sector with a focus on gastronomy and retail. The combination of a 2 kg payload and 625 mm reach covers typical tasks such as gripping and moving cups, mugs, bottles, cans, or food items. In coffee and beverage stations, the cobot can, for example, provide cups, position them in coffee machines, dispense syrups, froth milk, and serve finished drinks.
In retail, the Nova 2 is suitable as a show or service robot: preparation of snacks, simple cooking or mixing processes, presentation of products, and interaction with customers. Through replaceable, colored covers, the cobot can be adapted to corporate design, shop concepts, or brand looks, turning it from a "gray industrial arm" into a visible part of the in-store brand experience.
Beyond gastronomy and retail, the Nova 2 can also be used in healthcare, light assembly, and laboratory automation – for instance, for light assembly tasks, screwdriving applications, dispensing processes, sample handling, or testing laboratories. Here, the high repeatability of ±0.05 mm plays to its strengths when components, sample vessels, or test adapters need to be positioned precisely.
Simple Operation, Programming, and Cloud Monitoring
One of the most significant hurdles for service and gastronomy robots is usability for non-roboticists. The DOBOT Nova 2 addresses this issue with drag mode, a graphical user interface, trajectory recording, and intuitive apps. Staff can demonstrate the cobot's movements, record them, and subsequently play them back as standard procedures – without requiring classic programming skills.
Via cloud connectivity, cobot activities can be monitored, status data viewed, and software updates provided centrally. For operators of chains, franchises, or multiple locations, this is decisive: workflows can be created and rolled out centrally, KPIs compared, and downtime minimized. Thus, the Nova 2 becomes not just an individual robot, but part of a scalable service robot network.
At the same time, open interfaces and documentation are available for integrators and developers to incorporate the Nova 2 into more complex systems: shop software, ordering systems, payment terminals, conveyor technology, vision systems, or IoT platforms. This makes the cobot suitable for both "plug-and-play" solutions and customized special applications.
Safety and Design for Customer-Facing Applications
In gastronomy, retail, and service, people are in direct contact with robot solutions – the requirements for safety and user experience are accordingly high. The Nova series features several safety functions: intelligent sensors, five adjustable safety levels, collision stops in 0.01 seconds, motion detection, and position holding during power failures. Consequently, collisions are detected quickly and movements are stopped safely.
For operators, this means: the DOBOT Nova 2 can be integrated into customer-facing zones – while observing the respective standards and risk assessments – such as directly at the counter, in a self-service area, or on a freely accessible island station. Thanks to the compact control box and small footprint, the robot cell requires only about 1 m², which is a major advantage in urban locations with high space pressure.
Visually, the cobot can be integrated into brand colors or shop styles via customizable covers. In combination with thoughtfully designed glass or acrylic partitions, lighting, and signage, a visually attractive robot station is created that not only automates processes but also generates attention and strengthens the brand image as innovative and technology-savvy.
Economic Efficiency and Scaling with the DOBOT Nova 2
The DOBOT Nova 2 is intentionally positioned as a cost-efficient cobot solution. The combination of a lightweight setup, integrated control, high reliability, and simple operation reduces integration and operating costs. At the same time, standardized workflows (e.g., coffee preparation, snack handling, standard meals) allow for multiple robot stations with identical setups to be rolled out, enabling economies of scale in procurement, training, and maintenance.
Especially in times of skilled labor shortages, rising personnel costs, and a growing demand for consistent product quality, a cobot like the Nova 2 becomes a strategic building block: it takes over monotonous, repetitive tasks, ensures consistent quality, and allows staff to focus more on consulting, service, and value-adding activities.