DQ Opens World's First "Zero-Modification, Fully Autonomous" Robot Restaurant in Shanghai
DQ and robotics firm Sharpa have opened a fully autonomous robot Blizzard bar in Shanghai, with the robot "小Sha" operating unmodified store equipment for four days.
Dairy Queen (DQ) has partnered with Chinese robotics company Sharpa to open what it describes as the world's first "zero-modification, fully autonomous" robot restaurant, located at a single Shanghai outlet. The installation runs from 25 to 28 August.
The robot, named "小Sha," operates entirely within an unmodified store environment using standard DQ equipment. It executes the full Blizzard production sequence: sanitising and retrieving cups, fitting cup rings, dispensing soft-serve, adding mix-in ingredients, running the spindle blend, and completing the signature inverted pour without spillage. No bespoke hardware or store alterations were required, which the brand positions as the defining technical claim.
Alongside the restaurant activation, DQ released a promotional video styled as a sports broadcast, with commentary-style narration presenting the robot's ice-cream-making process as live athletic competition.
Consumer access is managed through WeChat. Users can send the keyword "机器人" to DQ's official public account to receive a reservation code, or book a time slot directly via a linked mini-programme. Between 25 and 28 August, visitors who post a screenshot of their reservation or a check-in photo are entered into a draw for a co-branded speaker.
The activation is confined to one location for four days, functioning primarily as a media and traffic event rather than a scaled rollout.
