Qualcomm Unveils Cutting-Edge Robotics Technologies at CES 2026
1. A Leap into the Future of Robotics
On January 5, 2026, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM) made headlines at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas by introducing a comprehensive suite of robotics technologies aimed at revolutionizing the robotics landscape. The centerpiece of this announcement is the next-generation robotics architecture, which integrates advanced hardware, software, and compound AI capabilities, providing a robust foundation for both household robots and full-size humanoids.
2. Introducing the Dragonwing™ IQ10 Series
Qualcomm also unveiled its latest high-performance robotics processor, the Qualcomm Dragonwing™ IQ10 Series. This advanced processor is specifically designed for industrial Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and sophisticated humanoids, marking a significant milestone in Qualcomm's robotics roadmap. The Dragonwing IQ10 promises to deliver high-performance, energy-efficient “Brain of the Robot” capabilities, leveraging Qualcomm's expertise in edge AI and low-power systems. This innovation is set to transform robotics prototypes into practical, deployable machines capable of operating in real-world environments.
Nakul Duggal, Executive Vice President and Group General Manager of Automotive, Industrial & Embedded IoT and Robotics, emphasized Qualcomm's commitment to energy-efficient and high-performance systems. He stated, “By building on our strong foundational low-latency safety-grade high-performance technologies ranging from sensing, perception to planning and action, we’re redefining what’s possible with physical AI.”
3. Collaborating for a Purpose
Qualcomm's advancements are not occurring in isolation. Noteworthy is the collaboration with Figure, a company focused on developing general-purpose humanoid robots. Figure's CEO, Brett Adcock, highlighted the importance of Qualcomm’s platform, citing its exceptional compute capabilities and energy efficiency as vital components in realizing their vision of a future where robots can perform unsafe or undesirable jobs, ultimately enhancing productivity and creating economic abundance.
4. Robust Architecture for Real-World Applications
The newly introduced general-purpose robotics architecture represents a significant leap forward in the field of robotics. By harnessing Qualcomm's strengths in power efficiency and edge AI performance, the Dragonwing IQ10 enables a diverse range of robotics applications. The architecture supports advanced perception, motion planning, and human-robot interactions through integrated AI models, facilitating generalized manipulation capabilities.
This groundbreaking architecture is set to power various industrial applications, with Qualcomm already engaging in discussions with Kuka Robotics regarding their next-generation robotics solutions.
5. Comprehensive Stack Architecture
Qualcomm's commitment to redefining robotics is further illustrated in its comprehensive stack architecture. This architecture seamlessly integrates heterogeneous edge computing, edge AI, software, machine learning operations, and an AI data flywheel, all supported by a growing ecosystem of partners. This end-to-end approach ensures that robots can intelligently adapt to their environments, offering industrial-grade reliability and scalability across various form factors.
By accelerating the development of deployment-ready robotics solutions, Qualcomm aims to address the last-mile challenges faced by many industries, paving the way for faster and more scalable innovation.
6. Experience Robotics Innovation at CES
Attendees at CES have the opportunity to witness Qualcomm’s advanced robotics capabilities firsthand. The VinMotion Motion 2 humanoid, powered by the Qualcomm Dragonwing™ IQ9 Series, is being showcased at Qualcomm's Booth #5001, alongside Booster’s K1 Geek, which highlights Qualcomm’s leadership in edge AI. Additionally, the booth features Advantech’s commercially available robotics development kit, aimed at facilitating rapid multi-application development and deployment.
Visitors can also explore advanced teleoperation tooling and an AI data flywheel for skill collection, training, and deployment across various robotic platforms.
7. Conclusion
Qualcomm's latest announcements at CES 2026 signal a transformative shift in the robotics sector, driven by innovative technologies and strategic partnerships. As Qualcomm continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in robotics, the industry looks forward to a future where intelligent machines enhance productivity, safety, and overall quality of life. For more information on Qualcomm's robotics initiatives, interested parties are directed to visit the Qualcomm Robotics Page.