Pikapoo

Dog Waste Pick-Up Robot for Yihan Luo and Zihang Zheng

With nearly 900 million dogs owned worldwide, dog waste management has become a growing environmental concern. Research indicates that up to 50% of owners neglect cleanup in secluded areas due to inconvenience or misinformation. Pikapoo introduces a smart robotic solution consisting of the PooBot, an autonomous robot that locates and collects dog waste, and the PooBase, a connected composting unit that transforms waste into fertilizer. The entire system is managed via a user-friendly mobile application.

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Pikapoo by Yihan Luo

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Dog Waste Pick Up Robot by Yihan Luo

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Yihan Luo Pikapoo

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Yihan Luo Dog Waste Pick Up Robot

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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.

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.

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.

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.

Image Credits

All Copyright Yihan Luo, Zihang Zheng

Project Overview

Pikapoo Dog Waste Pick-Up Robot has been a Iron winner in the Robotics, Automaton and Automation Design award category in the year 2024 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.

Iron Recognition

Yihan Luo was recognized with the coveted Iron A' Design Award in 2025, a testament to excellence of their work Pikapoo Dog Waste Pick-Up Robot.

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