Relay vs Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI
Side-by-side comparison of Relay (Relay Robotics) and Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI (Zhen Robotics) — specs, pricing, Robo Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Cleaning & Facilities buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- RelayUnited States

- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINIChina

Year First Available
- Relay2014

- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI—

Verified Deployments
- Relay0 Deployments

- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI0 Deployments

Layer 2: Operational
Price
- Relay$26,000 USD

- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINIContact for quote

Battery / Shift Runtime
- Relay16 hrs

- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI8 hrs

Availability Status
- RelayACTIVE

- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINIACTIVE

Physical
Robot Weight
- Relay—

- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI30 kg

Payload
- Relay—

- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI10 kg

Dimensions
- Relay—

- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI620x660x770

Tray Count
- Relay—

- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI1

Compartment Type
- Relayhybrid

- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINIenclosed locked

IP Rating
- Relay—

- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINIIP54

Navigation & Safety
Navigation Type
- Relaylidar slam,vision

- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINIlidar slam,vision,hybrid

Max Speed
- Relay—

- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI1.5 m/s

Power
Battery Runtime
- Relay16 hrs

- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI8 hrs

Auto Docking
- RelayYes

- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINIYes

Hot-Swap Battery
- Relay—

- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MININo

Integration
Elevator API
- RelayYes

- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINIYes

PMS / POS Integration
- Relay—

- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MININo

Fleet Management
- Relay—

- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINIcentralized cloud

Floor Compatibility
- Relayhard floor,carpet

- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINIhard floor

Commercial
Price (USD)
- Relay$26,000 USD

- Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINIContact for quote

![]() | ![]() | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | United States | China |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2014 | — |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price (values differ) | $26,000 USD | Contact for quote |
| Battery / Shift Runtime (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 16 hrs | 8 hrs |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Physical | ||
| Robot Weight (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | — | 30 kg |
| Payload (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | — | 10 kg |
| Dimensions (values differ) | — | 620x660x770 |
| Tray Count (values differ) | — | 1 |
| Compartment Type (values differ) | hybrid | enclosed locked |
| IP Rating (values differ) | — | IP54 |
| Navigation & Safety | ||
| Navigation Type (values differ) | lidar slam,vision | lidar slam,vision,hybrid |
| Max Speed (values differ) | — | 1.5 m/s |
| Power | ||
| Battery Runtime (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 16 hrs | 8 hrs |
| Auto Docking | Yes | Yes |
| Hot-Swap Battery (values differ) | — | No |
| Integration | ||
| Elevator API (values differ) | Yes | Yes |
| PMS / POS Integration (values differ) | — | No |
| Fleet Management (values differ) | — | centralized cloud |
| Floor Compatibility (values differ) | hard floor,carpet | hard floor |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $26,000 USD | Contact for quote |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Tray Capacity, Min Passable Width, Obstacle Detection Range, Min Object Detection Height, Charge Time, Noise Level, Display Size, RaaS / Month, Warranty
ROI Comparison
Same operating assumptions across every robot — the only difference is price. Set your numbers once to see which pays back fastest.
Annual labor displaced (per robot): $50,000
| Metric | Relay | Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | $26,000 | No price |
| Payback period | 6.2 mo | — |
| Net savings (5 yr) | $224,000 | — |
| ROI (5 yr) | +862% | — |
Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI has no listed price, so payback can't be computed. Contact the manufacturer for a quote.
Estimates labor-cost displacement only — not a full total cost of ownership. Actual ROI depends on integration, maintenance, training, downtime, and task fit. Converted currencies are indicative; USD is the price of record.
Trade-offs at a glance
Frequently asked
Who makes Relay and Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI?
Relay is made by Relay Robotics, based in US. Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI is made by Zhen Robotics, based in CN.
How do Relay and Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI compare on the Robo Index?
Relay grades AA on the Robo Index. Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI grades BBB. The Robo Index is a credibility grade (AAA … C) that blends commercial maturity, verified deployments, company standing, and independent coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
Are Relay and Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI in the same category?
Both robots are classified as Delivery on Robolist. Filters and ranking treat them as direct alternatives.
What should a buyer ask vendors when choosing between Relay and Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI?
Spec sheets only show part of the story. Useful vendor questions cover support, lifecycle, integration cost, and references. We have a buyer-focused checklist: Delivery Robot Vendor Selection: Insurance, Telemetry, and Fallback Procedures.
Going deeper — picking the right robot
Delivery Robot Vendor Selection: Insurance, Telemetry, and Fallback Procedures
9 min readDelivery Robots
Last-Mile Delivery Pilots: 90 Days to a Decision
7 min readDelivery Robots
Indoor vs Outdoor Delivery: Why the Cost Gap Is Larger Than It Looks
7 min readDelivery Robots
Build vs buy vs lease: which model fits a first deployment
8 min readChoosing Your First Robot
The hidden specs vendors hope you'll miss
10 min readReading the Spec Sheet
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About this comparison
Relay vs Zhen Robotics RoboPony MINI compares two robots in the delivery category. All data is sourced from manufacturer spec sheets, verified deployments, and third-party filings; see our methodology for how the Robo Index is calculated.