Dobot announced that it is launched a collaborative robot (cobot) series for the retail and service sectors. The Nova Series is designed to handle tasks like making coffee, cocktails, noodles and fried chicken, scooping ice cream and even performing physical therapy tasks.

Nova 2, the first robot in the series, has a payload capacity of up to 2 kg (4.4 lbs), and a maximum reach of 625 mm (24.6 inches). This cobot is designed for handling retail tasks, while the Nova 5, the other cobot in the series, is designed for physiotherapy tasks.

Nova 5 has a maximum payload of 5 kg (11 lbs) and a maximum reach of 850 mm (33.5 inches).

To help the robots fit more seamlessly into retail spaces, Dobot offers color customization for the series. Dobot aims to make these cobots easy to implement. They can fit into one square meter of space, allowing them to be deployed without changing store layouts, and can be programmed without users having any previous coding experience.

The Nova Series can be programmed using a drag-to-teach method where the user guides the cobot arm along a route to help it learn its tasks. It can be accessed using an easy-to-understand interface, according to the company. Dobot claims that the cobot can be programmed in as little as 10 minutes.

Dobot has also aimed to make the series safe enough to work around people. The cobots are equipped with sensors that offer five different adjustable levels of protection. They can be programmed to stop operation and freeze in place within 0.01 seconds of detecting human movement within their range to offer the most protection. Nova cobots will also freeze in the case of a sudden power outage.

Dobot was established in 2015 and is based in Shenzhen, China. It has raised a total of $74.7 million since its founding, according to Crunchbase.