Pikapoo Robota Manangona Loto Alika by Yihan Luo and Zihang Zheng

Pikapoo Robota Manangona Loto Alika by Yihan Luo and Zihang Zheng is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award Vy in Famolavolana Robotika, Automata ary Automatika Competition Category.

VyRobotika· 2025

Pikapoo Robota Manangona Loto Alika

by Yihan Luo and Zihang Zheng

Client: Yihan Luo and Zihang Zheng

A' Design Award Vy Winner in Robotika Category

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Verified Award Winner
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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Pikapoo Robota Manangona Loto Alika

Miaraka amin'ny alika sahabo ho 900 tapitrisa manodidina izao tontolo izao, ny fitantanana ny loto alika dia lasa olana ara-tontolo iainana mitombo. Ny fikarohana dia mampiseho fa hatramin'ny 50% amin'ny tompon'alika no tsy mitandrina ny fanadiovana any amin'ny toerana mangingina noho ny tsy fahampiana na ny fampahafantarana diso. Ny Pikapoo dia manolotra vahaolana robotika marani-tsaina izay ahitana ny PooBot, robota mizaka tena izay mitady sy manangona loto alika, ary ny PooBase, fitaovana fanaovana zezika mifandray izay manova ny loto ho zezika. Ny rafitra manontolo dia tantanina amin'ny alàlan'ny fampiharana finday mora ampiasaina.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Vy

Nandresy ny A' Design Award Vy ny famolavolana Pikapoo Robota Manangona Loto Alika, fankasitrahana malaza omena ny famolavolana tsara izay mahafeno ny fepetra ara-barotra sy ara-indostria andrasana amin'ny famoronana natao tsara. Ny mpandresy Vy dia mampiseho fahaiza-manao lehibe, fahaizana manokana ambony, fahatakarana manam-pahaizana ary fahaizana mamorona an'ireo mpamorona azy. Andrasana ho famoronana ankasitrahana be, ankafizina ary tiana izay azo ampiharina sady vaovao ny famolavolana Pikapoo Robota Manangona Loto Alika. Ity famolavolana nandresy ny A' Design Award Vy ity dia mampiray ny fomba fanao tsara indrindra amin'ny indostria ary manana toetra ara-teknika mahomby mifandray amin'ny fahalalana sy ny talenta. Ny famolavolana Pikapoo Robota Manangona Loto Alika dia hajaina noho ny fitandremany ary natao hanome fanatsarana ny kalitaon'ny fiainana izay manampy hahatonga ny tontolo ho toerana tsara kokoa.

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