McDonald's has tested humanoid robots at one of its Shanghai locations in a limited pilot program, marking the latest example of the fast-food industry's exploration of automation technology.

The robots, manufactured by Keenon Robotics, were deployed to perform customer service functions including greeting patrons and delivering food orders during the trial period. The pilot program was described as brief in duration.

The test represents part of broader industry trends toward automation in food service, as restaurants seek to address labor challenges and improve operational efficiency. McDonald's has previously experimented with various forms of automation at select locations globally.

Keenon Robotics specializes in service robots designed for hospitality and food service applications. The company's robots are equipped to navigate restaurant environments and interact with customers in basic service roles.

McDonald's has not announced plans to expand the robot pilot program to other locations or provided details about the performance metrics or customer reception during the Shanghai trial.