H.A.R.L.A.N.D, the Human Assisted Robotic Linguistic Animatronic Networked Device is KFC\u2019s latest stunt for NFCD (National Fried Chicken Day) and it\u2019s a robot designed to take drive-thru orders. The robot translate the responses from the cashier into Colonel Sanders-speak, with a slight delay.<\/p>\n
KFC is known for its sometimes weird marketing campaigns like for example the sunscreen that smells like fried chicken<\/a> but also for using technology, like for example the facial recognition technology used by KFC China<\/a>. \u00a0H.A.R.L.A.N.D is created by marketing agency Wieden + Kennedy and according to Adweek, executives at Wieden + Kennedy confirmed that the robot was used to take orders at an actual KFC location. This bot was developed by The Lodge, the design engineering group within W+K.\u00a0 The bot itself, and the whole concept of an animatronic order-taking Colonel, is a bit strange. And so W+K is leaning into that with its messaging around it, including a Funny Or Die video, which is more of a mockumentary. See video below. But W+K states that it\u2019s a serious project and that they will continue to experiment with this kind of technology.<\/p>\n