SYDNEY, Sept. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A delegation from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), one of Australia's leading research universities, recently visited Shanghai Hi-Dolphin Robot Technology Co., Ltd. to explore the development and commercialization of COFE+'s 7th-generation robotic café and emerging opportunities at the intersection of artificial intelligence, robotics and the global food and beverage industry.
The visit focused on intelligent beverage robotics, technology commercialization, university applications and the future of automated coffee retail. Discussions explored potential applications for COFE+ robotic cafés on university campuses, providing students and faculty with convenient, 24/7 access to freshly prepared beverages while creating opportunities for research and practical innovation.
COFE+ has evolved through seven generations of technology development, integrating proprietary robotics, AI-powered process control and automated beverage preparation into a compact commercial platform. Its latest generation supports more than 300 beverages across eight categories, thousands of customizable taste parameters, automated latte art and edible 3D foam printing for personalized images, logos and text.
Powered by a six-axis robotic arm and an AI-driven "smart store brain," the 2.35-square-meter robotic café digitally controls key beverage-making variables, including extraction pressure, water temperature, grinding and ingredient ratios. The platform is designed to deliver consistent beverages through autonomous beverage service with minimal on-site support.
According to the company, COFE+ has expanded across more than 70 countries and five continents, with deployments in hundreds of cities and thousands of commercial locations. Shanghai Hi-Dolphin Robot Technology Co., Ltd. has also developed more than 120 international patents and 1,200 proprietary technical know-how assets.
The UNSW visit highlights growing connections between Chinese robotics innovation and global academic and commercial ecosystems. As AI and embodied intelligence move into real-world service environments, COFE+ aims to advance AI-powered robotic cafés and transform how beverages are prepared, delivered and experienced.
"Robotics should not be about replacing people. It should be about freeing people from repetitive work and giving them more opportunities to create, innovate and enjoy a better life," said Dr. Han Feizi, founder of Shanghai Hi-Dolphin Robot Technology Co., Ltd. "Our vision is to make high-quality products more accessible and let intelligent robots handle repetitive tasks, creating a more efficient, convenient and human-centered future."
