How to Set Up BellaBot in Your Restaurant: Complete Guide

The Pudu BellaBot is the most popular restaurant delivery robot in the UK, and for good reason. With its cat-like face, four-tray capacity, and obstacle-avoidance sensors, it can transform your front-of-house operations in under a day. Here is exactly how to get it running.

Step 1: Assess Your Floor Plan

Before your BellaBot arrives, measure your restaurant layout. The robot requires a minimum aisle width of 55 cm to navigate between tables, though 70 cm or wider is recommended for smooth two-way traffic. Identify the route from your kitchen pass to each table zone, noting any steps, ramps, or uneven transitions that could pose problems.

Draw a simple overhead sketch marking the kitchen dispatch point, table clusters, and the charging dock location. The dock needs a standard UK 13A socket and should be placed against a wall in a low-traffic area, ideally near the kitchen entrance.

Step 2: WiFi and Network Requirements

BellaBot requires a stable 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz WiFi connection for cloud management and firmware updates, but its core navigation runs locally using LiDAR mapping. Ensure your router covers the entire dining floor with a minimum signal strength of -65 dBm. If your venue has thick walls or multiple floors, consider adding a mesh WiFi access point in the dining area. A dedicated SSID for the robot helps prevent bandwidth conflicts during busy service.

Step 3: Mapping Your Venue

Once powered on for the first time, BellaBot enters mapping mode. Slowly guide it through your entire dining area so its LiDAR scanner can build a 2D map of the environment. Walk it along every aisle, around all table groups, and past any obstacles like pillars or planters.

After mapping, use the Pudu Management app on a tablet to define delivery points. Assign a numbered point to each table or group of tables. Most restaurants set up 15-30 delivery points depending on their size. You can also create zones for different sections of the restaurant, useful for splitting workload if you deploy more than one BellaBot.

Step 4: Configure Delivery Routes

In the management app, set preferred routes and no-go zones. Block off areas near emergency exits, behind the bar, or near the entrance where foot traffic is heaviest. Configure the robot's speed: most operators find 0.5-0.7 m/s ideal for dine-in service. You can set faster speeds for quieter periods and slower speeds for fine dining settings where a calm presence matters.

Step 5: Staff Training

Staff training takes about 30 minutes. Cover these essentials: loading trays correctly with weight distributed evenly, dispatching the robot to a table number, handling the robot when it arrives at a table, returning it to the kitchen, and emergency stop procedures. When you hire through roboTED, an engineer delivers the robot and runs this training session on-site.

Brief your front-of-house team on how to introduce the robot to guests. Framing BellaBot as an assistant rather than a replacement helps staff and customers feel comfortable. Many restaurants find their team genuinely enjoys working alongside it once they see the reduction in repetitive carrying trips.

Step 6: Daily Operations and Charging

BellaBot's battery lasts 8-12 hours on a full charge, depending on workload. Most restaurants charge it overnight and it is ready for a full day's service. If you run split shifts, a 2-hour midday charge adds roughly 40% battery. Wipe down the trays between services with a damp cloth and check the LiDAR sensor window weekly for dust buildup.

Quick Troubleshooting

• Robot stops unexpectedly: check for objects blocking the LiDAR field of view
• Navigation errors: re-scan the affected area if furniture has moved significantly
• WiFi disconnects: verify signal strength and switch to 5 GHz if 2.4 GHz is congested
• Tray detection issues: ensure trays are seated correctly on all four mounting points