Pikapoo Hondafval Optel Robot by Yihan Luo and Zihang Zheng

Pikapoo Hondafval Optel Robot by Yihan Luo and Zihang Zheng is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award in Yster in Robotika, Outomaat en Outomatisering Ontwerp Competition Category.

YsterRobotika· 2025

Pikapoo Hondafval Optel Robot

by Yihan Luo and Zihang Zheng

Client: Yihan Luo and Zihang Zheng

A' Design Award in Yster Winner in Robotika Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #172728

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Pikapoo Hondafval Optel Robot

Met byna 900 miljoen honde wêreldwyd besit, het hondafvalbestuur 'n groeiende omgewingsbekommernis geword. Navorsing dui aan dat tot 50% van eienaars skoonmaak in afgeleë gebiede verwaarloos weens ongerief of verkeerde inligting. Pikapoo stel 'n slim robotiese oplossing bekend wat bestaan uit die PooBot, 'n outonome robot wat hondafval opspoor en versamel, en die PooBase, 'n gekoppelde komposteringeenheid wat afval in kunsmis omskep. Die hele stelsel word bestuur deur 'n gebruikersvriendelike mobiele toepassing.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in Yster

Pikapoo Hondafval Optel Robot is 'n wenner van die A' Design Award in Yster, 'n prestigieuse erkenning wat toegeken word aan goeie ontwerpe wat voldoen aan die professionele en industriële vereistes wat van goed ontwerpte skeppings verwag word. Wenners in Yster toon groot vaardigheid, hoë spesialisasie, kundige begrip en die kreatiewe vermoë van hul skeppers. Daar word verwag dat Pikapoo Hondafval Optel Robot 'n hoog aangeskrewe, bewonderde en gekoesterde skepping is wat prakties en innoverend is. Hierdie ontwerp wat die A' Design Award in Yster gewen het, integreer die beste praktyke in die bedryf en het bekwame tegniese kenmerke gekoppel aan kundigheid en talent. Pikapoo Hondafval Optel Robot word gerespekteer vir sy deeglikheid en is ontwerp om verbeterings in lewensgehalte te bied wat help om die wêreld 'n beter plek te maak.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: With approximately 900 million dogs owned globally, studies show that up to 50% of dog owners skip cleanup in secluded areas due to inconvenience and misconceptions. Dog waste harms the environment and disrupts public spaces. Pikapoo addresses this issue with a smart robotic system: the PooBot (a poop-collecting robot) that picks up waste, and the PooBase (a smart composting unit) that converts it into fertilizer, all managed through an app.
Dimensions & Packaging: 457.2 mm x 355.6 mm x 304.8 mm / 12.5KG
Tags: Robotics, Pet, Eco-Friendly Design, Sustainability, User-Centric Design, Social Impact
Production Technology: When PooBot deposits waste into PooBase, a specialized catalyzer containing all-natural microorganisms—including lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, photosynthetic bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi—initiates the transformation of waste into nutrient-rich organic fertilizer. These microorganisms accelerate waste breakdown, eliminate odors, and neutralize harmful pathogens. Once the composting process is complete, part of the fertilizer is released into the surrounding soil to enrich it, while the remainder is transferred back to PooBot for even distribution across the lawn.
Design Challenge: The biggest challenge for Pikapoo is figuring out how to recycle dog feces in a way that benefits both the environment and dog owners. For dog owners, we identified an opportunity: in our product Poobot, we designed a system that transforms dog feces into a stool sample for health checks, which can then be picked up by a courier. To support environmental sustainability, Poobot sends the remaining waste to Poobase, where a built-in catalyzer processes the feces into fertilizer.
Research: For Pikapoo, we conducted a field research expedition to identify the problem: dog feces near gardens and plants were often left uncollected. Through secondary research, we found that improperly disposed dog feces contain enough bacteria to contaminate soil within a 20-mile radius. Additionally, we gathered feedback from over 100 dog-owning families. Many of them believed that dog poop is beneficial to the soil—but this is a misconception.
Inspiration: Cleaning up after pets is tedious, messy, and unpleasant. The diversity among dog owners can make it inconvenient for some to pick up dog waste; for example, elderly individuals may have difficulty bending down, and busy professionals may lack the time. When owners neglect this task, it results in unpleasant sights and polluted, unhealthy land. Pikapoo leverages robotic technology equipped with advanced olfactory and image recognition to offer an efficient solution.
Project Duration: Project was initiated since 2019 in Beijing, China. It has gone through rounds of variation and refinement, eventually finished in 2024 in Los Angeles.
Operation Flow: Pikapoo is just one click away. Through the app, users request a PooBot to collect dog waste. After collection, the PooBot takes a sample for health monitoring, which is later delivered to the vet. The remaining waste is transported to the nearest PooBase, where it’s composted into organic fertilizer while the PooBot charges wirelessly.
Team Members: Industrial Designer: Zihang (Matt) Zheng
Design Research and UIUX Designer: Yihan (Sakura) Luo
Image Credits: All Copyright Yihan Luo, Zihang Zheng