Pudu Robotics Showcases "One Brain, Multiple Embodiments" Platform and Debuts PUDU D7 at WAIC 2026
Pudu Robotics, a global leader in commercial service robotics, used the opening day of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai to present the latest advancements in its "One Brain, Multiple Embodiments" technology architecture. The company offered an in-depth look at its Physical Agent architecture and unveiled the PUDU D7, its industrial-grade semi-humanoid robot, in its first offline public appearance.
According to the company, the industry's next major challenge is no longer developing more capable AI models, but building a continuous loop connecting technology, products, commercial deployment, and real-world data. Ranked first globally in both revenue and shipment volume for commercial service robots, Pudu Robotics is leveraging its large-scale deployment to accelerate the development of Physical AI.
AI's Transition from Digital to Physical Worlds
Recent progress in large language models, multimodal foundation models, and AI agents has enabled AI to evolve from content generation to understanding complex tasks. As capabilities in perception, reasoning, planning, and execution mature, AI is extending beyond digital environments into the physical world.
Frost & Sullivan's 2025 Global Embodied Intelligence and Commercial Service Robot Independent Market Research Report notes that robots equipped with perception, mobility, interaction, and manipulation have become critical hardware platforms in the Physical AI era. The report highlights that commercial service robots addressing delivery, cleaning, and guiding scenarios directly tackle industry pain points such as rising labor costs and operational inefficiencies, providing a foundation for immediate large-scale commercial deployment.
A Unified Platform for Diverse Robot Forms
To overcome challenges including real-world data availability, engineering capabilities, and global scalability, Pudu Robotics is advancing its "One Brain, Multiple Embodiments" philosophy. This approach enables different robot forms to share the same underlying intelligence through a unified model and software architecture.
"By building a unified intelligence foundation, we enable different robot forms to share the same 'brain,' allowing robotics to evolve from standalone intelligence to a platform-based intelligence ecosystem," said Shawn Wu, General Manager of the General Embodied AI Product Line at Pudu Robotics.
Three-Layer Physical Agent Architecture
Under this philosophy, Pudu has developed a three-layer Physical Agent architecture that enables robots to complete the full operational loop of perception, understanding, planning, execution, and feedback.
Robot Body Layer: This layer serves as AI's physical interface. Pudu develops multiple product formsāspecialized, semi-humanoid, and humanoid robotsātailored to diverse scenario demands. Specialized robots handle high-frequency, standardized tasks; semi-humanoid robots operate in complex industrial and commercial environments; and humanoid robots explore open-ended human-robot collaboration.
System Layer (PuduAgent OS): Acting as the central intelligence hub, PuduAgent OS uses interactive Visual-Language-Models (VLM), long/short-term memory modules, and safety guardrails to manage task comprehension, planning, experience accumulation, and safe operation. Its core value lies in allowing diverse robot forms to share the same "brain" and enabling cross-body, cross-scenario skill migration.
Skill Layer (PuduFM): The embodied intelligence foundation model, PuduFM, features a physical VLM module, a Physics Intuition Model (PIM), and action-expert modules. Unlike traditional pre-programmed robots, PuduFM empowers robots to understand environments, predict outcomes, autonomously plan tasks, execute actions, and continuously optimize based on feedback.
PUDU D7 Makes Its Offline Debut
As a key example of the "One Brain, Multiple Embodiments" philosophy, the PUDU D7 was presented for the first time in an offline public setting at WAIC 2026. Powered by PuduFM, the industrial-grade semi-humanoid robot supports payloads of up to 14 kg and an operating height of 2 meters. It is designed for complex tasks such as material handling, high-reach picking, and warehouse logistics, making it adaptable for manufacturing, warehousing, and retail environments.
From Product Leadership to Platform Intelligence
According to Frost & Sullivan's latest 2025 report, Pudu Robotics leads the global commercial service robotics industry in revenue and shipments, ranks first among Chinese commercial service robotics companies by overseas market share, and holds the top position globally in commercial cleaning robotics revenue.
Building on more than a decade of experience, Pudu Robotics is transforming real-world operational data into continuously evolving embodied intelligence. The company is extending its expertise in technology, products, and commercialization into a unified AI platform that supports multiple robot forms. Currently, it offers four major product linesāservice delivery, commercial cleaning, industrial delivery, and general embodied AIāwith over 130,000 units shipped to more than 85 countries and regions.
The source for this article is https://www.roboticstomorrow.com/news/2026/07/17/pudu-robotics-highlights-its-one-brain-multiple-embodiments-physical-agent-at-waic-2026/26855/.