Qualcomm unveils robotics processor to power humanoids and autonomous machines at CES

2 Sources

Share

Qualcomm introduced its Dragonwing IQ10 Series processor and comprehensive robotics architecture at CES, designed for industrial autonomous mobile robots and humanoid robots. The chip giant is collaborating with Figure and other robotics companies to deliver what it calls 'Brain of the Robot' capabilities, moving intelligent machines from labs into real-world environments with AI-driven edge solutions.

Qualcomm Positions Itself as Central Force in Physical AI

Qualcomm aggressively positioned itself at CES 2026 as the architect of the "connected edge," unveiling a comprehensive robotics architecture and the Dragonwing IQ10 Series processor designed specifically for industrial autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and full-size humanoid robots

1

2

. The semiconductor giant, with a market capitalization of $183.88 billion, is moving beyond its mobile processor roots to deliver what it calls "Brain of the Robot" capabilities with high performance and energy efficiency

2

. Nakul Duggal, EVP and Group General Manager at Qualcomm Technologies, stated the company is "redefining what's possible with physical AI by moving intelligent machines out of the labs and into real-world environments"

2

. This strategic push into next-gen robotics reflects Qualcomm's revenue growth of 13.66% over the last twelve months, demonstrating successful diversification beyond smartphones

2

.

Source: Benzinga

Source: Benzinga

Building an Ecosystem for AI-Driven Edge Solutions

Qualcomm is consolidating the fragmented Internet of Things market by leveraging recent acquisitions including Arduino and Edge Impulse, launching the Qualcomm Dragonwing Q-series processors to empower users from independent hobbyists to global industrial enterprises

1

. The new robotics architecture integrates hardware, software, and artificial intelligence components to enable robots to reason and adapt to their environments, supporting advanced perception and motion planning with end-to-end AI models

2

. The company is building an ecosystem around its robotics platforms, collaborating with companies including Advantech, Figure, Kuka Robotics, and VinMotion

2

. Figure, a humanoid robot manufacturer, confirmed it actively utilizes Qualcomm's compute capabilities to process complex physical tasks, allowing it to move robots out of the lab and into the real world

1

. Brett Adcock, Founder & CEO of Figure, noted that "Qualcomm Technologies' platform, with its combination of exceptional compute capabilities and energy efficiency, is a valuable building block in enabling Figure to turn our vision into reality"

2

.

Automotive Sector Expansion with Snapdragon Digital Chassis

Beyond robotics, Qualcomm reaffirmed its dominance in the automotive sector through its Snapdragon Digital Chassis, driving the industry transition toward "Agentic AI"

1

. A key pillar involves expanding Qualcomm's decade-long alliance with Alphabet Inc. Google, integrating Snapdragon hardware with Google's software, including Gemini Enterprise, to deploy AI agents that manage in-car experiences via voice and visual interaction

1

. This momentum secured 10 new design wins with major automakers, including Li Auto Inc., Zeekr, and NIO Inc.

1

. Leapmotor and Qualcomm introduced the D19, the first vehicle globally to launch with a central controller based on dual Snapdragon Elite (SA8797P) chips, representing a shift away from dozens of small chips controlling individual functions

1

. This single dual-chip system simultaneously runs the dashboard supporting up to eight 4K screens and automated driving systems processing data from LiDAR and 13 cameras

1

. Qualcomm further strengthened its position in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) through collaboration with ZF, integrating Snapdragon Ride System-on-Chips (SoCs) into its ProAI supercomputer to enable scalable driving automation ranging from basic safety features up to Level 3 autonomous driving

1

. At CES, Qualcomm showcased several humanoid robots powered by its technology, including VinMotion's Motion 2 and Booster's K1 Geek, demonstrating Advantech's robotics development kit for multi-application development

2

. The robotics architecture is designed to support various robot form factors with industrial-grade reliability, from personal service robots to full-size humanoids

2

. Qualcomm shares were up 2.89% at $177.97 following the CES announcements

1

.

Today's Top Stories

TheOutpost.ai

Your Daily Dose of Curated AI News

Don’t drown in AI news. We cut through the noise - filtering, ranking and summarizing the most important AI news, breakthroughs and research daily. Spend less time searching for the latest in AI and get straight to action.

© 2026 Triveous Technologies Private Limited
Instagram logo
LinkedIn logo