Reference / Glossary
Hotel robot glossary
Response within 24 hours · Warranty: 12 months
Reviewed by Aobotics Project Team
Quick answer
This glossary explains the terms used in hotel robot projects: navigation (SLAM, LiDAR), building interfaces (dry contact, RS485, API), hotel systems (PMS, PABX) and robot categories (AMR, AGV, delivery, reception). Use it to read a quotation or a technical proposal.
- Terms
- 28
- Categories
- 4
- Page to bookmark
- 1
- Warranty
- 12 mo
Building interfaces
Building and lift interface terms
How the robot talks to the building.
| Term | Plain meaning | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dry contact | A simple relay closure | Cheapest lift interface; limited feedback |
| RS485 | A serial bus standard | Can read lift position and door state |
| API | A software interface between systems | Best observability; needs vendor support |
| BMS | Building management system | May expose lift, door and HVAC data |
| Fire mode | The lift’s emergency behaviour | The robot must stop lift use during an alarm |
Hotel systems
Hotel system terms
The systems the robot connects to.
| Term | Plain meaning | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| PMS | Property management system | Stores rooms, arrivals and guest status |
| PABX | Private automatic branch exchange | The hotel phone system; used for room calls |
| Folio | The guest’s bill record | Usually out of scope for a delivery robot |
| Task queue | A list of delivery jobs | The front desk’s control point |
| Escalation | Handing an exception to a human | The most important operating rule |
Robot categories
Robot category terms
Not every robot is a hotel robot.
A hotel robot is defined by its environment and workflow, not only by its navigation stack. A factory AMR and a hotel delivery robot may share sensors but not safety rules or guest interaction.
| Term | Plain meaning | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| AMR | Autonomous mobile robot | A broad category; hotel robots are a subset |
| AGV | Automated guided vehicle | Usually follows fixed paths in factories |
| Delivery robot | Moves items to a destination | The main hotel use case |
| Reception robot | Welcomes and guides guests | A lobby platform, not a porter |
| Concierge robot | Handles guest questions and directions | Deeper content and escalation than reception |
| Hotel service robot | Umbrella term for delivery, reception, concierge and cleaning robots | The category a buyer usually searches for |
| Hotel delivery robot | A delivery robot configured for hotel lifts and guest floors | The main hotel deployment |
| Room service robot | Guest-requested delivery to the room door | A delivery robot configured for guest requests |
| Cleaning robot | A floor-cleaning robot for public areas | A separate platform from delivery |
| Food delivery robot | A delivery robot carrying sealed or covered food | Different from a restaurant tray runner |
| Waiter robot | A dining-room tray runner with staff hand-off | Not a room delivery robot |
| Autonomous delivery robot | A delivery robot that maps and plans routes without fixed tracks | The navigation category, not the hotel workflow |
| Hospitality robot | A broad term for service robots used in hotels | Useful for search; specify the task |
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Response within 24 hours · Talk to an engineer
What is the difference between AMR and AGV?
An AGV usually follows a fixed path (tape, wire or rail) and is common in factories. An AMR navigates dynamically with a map and sensors. Hotel delivery robots are AMRs, but not every AMR is suitable for guest areas.
What is SLAM in simple terms?
SLAM is how the robot builds a map and keeps track of where it is at the same time. If the map is wrong or the environment changes, the robot can get lost; that is why mapping and route validation are part of deployment.
What does dry contact mean?
A dry contact is a simple relay closure — two wires that touch to signal an action. It is the cheapest way to call a lift, but it usually cannot tell the robot where the car is or whether the door is open.
What is a PMS connector?
A connector is a small integration layer that lets the robot read selected PMS fields (room, arrival status, language) and write a task reference. It is not a direct database link.
Why does the glossary matter for procurement?
Suppliers use the same words for different scopes. A “PMS integration” can mean a read-only view or a full write-back. The glossary helps you ask for the exact function and compare offers fairly.
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