Pudu Robotics
Pudu Robotics is a Shenzhen commercial service robot company founded in 2016 by Felix Zhang (Zhang Tao), a Hong Kong University of Science and Technology graduate. It is one of the world's largest makers of restaurant delivery and cleaning robots, with more than 80,000 units shipped to over 60 countries and more than 1,000 authorised patents. Pudu moved into humanoids through its X-Lab: in 2024 it released the PUDU D7 semi-humanoid, the DH11 dexterous hand and, in December 2024, the PUDU D9, its first full-size bipedal humanoid. The D9 stands 170 cm tall, weighs 65 kg, has 42 degrees of freedom with peak joint torque of 352 N·m, walks at up to 2 m/s and carries more than 20 kg. Pudu raised about US$150 million at a US$1.5 billion valuation in April 2026, from investors including Meituan and Tencent, and has been reported to be preparing a China or Hong Kong stock market listing.
💡Notable Achievement: Pudu has shipped more than 80,000 robots to over 60 countries, unveiled the D9 humanoid in December 2024 and raised about US$150 million at a US$1.5 billion valuation in April 2026.
What Does Pudu Robotics Do?
Pudu Robotics is a Shenzhen commercial service robot company that added the D7 semi-humanoid and D9 full-size humanoid to its delivery and cleaning robots.
“A service robot leader adding humanoids.”
Scale
More than 80,000 robots shipped to over 60 countries.
PUDU D9
170 cm, 65 kg, 42 degrees of freedom.
Funding
About US$150 million raised in April 2026.
What Can Pudu Robotics Robots Actually Do?
Cross-portfolio operational capabilities, manipulation tasks, and environmental competencies
Service work in restaurants, retail and healthcare.
Bipedal Humanoid
D9 walks, climbs slopes and does floor cleaning.
Semi-Humanoid Service
D7 provides wheeled dual-arm service.
Pudu Robotics Robots & Robot Dogs
Showing 2 Humanoid Robots of 3 total models
D7
By: Pudu Robotics
Launched: 2023
PUDU D7 by Pudu Robotics is a next-generation semi-humanoid service robot that blends advanced mobility with high precision manipulation. Featuring an omnidirectional chassis and a human-like upper body with articulated arms, D7 navigates diverse indoor environments with agility and balance. Its 30 degrees of freedom, expandable to 50 with specialized hands, support complex tasks like elevator control, item transport, and sorting. Powered by a high-capacity lithium-ion battery, D7 delivers over eight hours of continuous operation. Embedded AI enables autonomous planning, perception, and adaptive execution, making it ideal for service, industrial, and commercial automation.
D9
By: Pudu Robotics
Launched: 2025
The PUDU D9 is a full-sized bipedal humanoid robot designed to replicate adult human proportions with a height of 170 cm and weight of 65 kg. It features 42 degrees of freedom enabling fluid, human-like motion, including dual 7-DoF arms equipped with the PUDU DH11 dexterous hand offering 11 degrees of freedom for precise manipulation. The robot can walk at speeds up to 2 m/s, navigate stairs and slopes, and perform complex tasks requiring both strength and delicacy with a payload capacity exceeding 20 kg. Advanced sensors including RGB, RGBD cameras, tactile sensors, and IMU support real-time 3D semantic mapping and autonomous navigation. Powered by AI and reinforcement learning, the D9 adapts quickly to diverse commercial and research applications, making it suitable for service, industrial automation, and exploration in unstructured environments.
Pudu Robotics Timeline & Milestones
Evolutionary history, landmark prototypes, major acquisitions, and commercial roadmap
Pudu Robotics founded in Shenzhen
Felix Zhang Tao, a Hong Kong University of Science and Technology graduate, founds Pudu Robotics in Shenzhen.
Source: pandaily.com
PUDU D9 full-size humanoid unveiled
Pudu unveils the PUDU D9, a 170 cm, 65 kg bipedal humanoid with 42 degrees of freedom, after the D7 semi-humanoid and DH11 hand.
Source: therobotreport.com
About $150 million at $1.5 billion valuation
Pudu Robotics raises about US$150 million at a US$1.5 billion valuation as it targets industrial applications.
Source: therobotreport.com
Pudu Robotics Competitors by Category
Direct industry rivals grouped by specific robotics domain
What Makes Pudu Robotics Different?
Editorial AnalysisOrigin of Bots objective strategic assessment, engineering moats, and commercial hurdles
Key Strengths & Moats
- ✓Large installed base.
- ✓Established sales channels.
Core Strategic Focus
Industrial applications and a listing.
Road Ahead & Challenges
- •D9 price not published.
- •Humanoid business is new to Pudu.
Pudu Robotics vs Key Competitors
Strategic capability matrix across platform categories, commercial readiness, and target markets
Form Factor
- PUDU D7 / D9
- Wheeled D7 & Biped D9
- aeo (Aeolus Robotics)
- Dual-Arm Wheeled Column
- Walker S1 (UBTECH)
- Full-Size Biped
- Savvy (Relay Robotics)
- Enclosed Wheeled Column
Elevator Interaction
- PUDU D7 / D9
- Physical Arm Button Press & IoT
- aeo (Aeolus Robotics)
- Physical Arm Button Press
- Walker S1 (UBTECH)
- Cloud / Hardwired Relay
- Savvy (Relay Robotics)
- Cloud Wi-Fi Relay Only
Installed Base
- PUDU D7 / D9
- 130,000+ Robots (Global)
- aeo (Aeolus Robotics)
- Hundreds of Units
- Walker S1 (UBTECH)
- Thousands of Units
- Savvy (Relay Robotics)
- Hundreds of Units
Dual-Arm Payload
- PUDU D7 / D9
- Up to 15 kg (Bionic Arms)
- aeo (Aeolus Robotics)
- 5 kg per Arm
- Walker S1 (UBTECH)
- Up to 15 kg
- Savvy (Relay Robotics)
- No Arms (Bay Only)
| Strategic Dimension | PUDU D7 / D9 | aeo (Aeolus Robotics) | Walker S1 (UBTECH) | Savvy (Relay Robotics) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | Wheeled D7 & Biped D9 | Dual-Arm Wheeled Column | Full-Size Biped | Enclosed Wheeled Column |
| Elevator Interaction | Physical Arm Button Press & IoT | Physical Arm Button Press | Cloud / Hardwired Relay | Cloud Wi-Fi Relay Only |
| Installed Base | 130,000+ Robots (Global) | Hundreds of Units | Thousands of Units | Hundreds of Units |
| Dual-Arm Payload | Up to 15 kg (Bionic Arms) | 5 kg per Arm | Up to 15 kg | No Arms (Bay Only) |
Corporate Ecosystem & Ownership Structure
Parent company relationships, historical acquisitions, and global operating facilities
Meituan
One of Pudu's strategic investors.
Ownership & Acquisition History
One of Pudu's strategic investors.
Global Facilities & Operating Hubs
Pudu Robotics Headquarters
HQShenzhen, Guangdong, China
Articles & Industry News
Showing 2 recent articles and news updates about Pudu Robotics
Robot Comparisons
Showing 8 in-depth comparisons featuring Pudu Robotics — Explore all comparisons →
D9 by Pudu Robotics & Hoxo Robot by Orano And Capgemini
In-depth comparison of D9 by Pudu Robotics and Hoxo Robot by Orano And Capgemini. Analyze sensors, navigation, and battery performance.
AgiBot G2 by Agi vs D7 by Pudu 2025
Compare AgiBot G2 and D7. Detailed analysis of navigation, battery, and sensors.
D7 by Pudu vs Walker Tienkung by UBTECH
Compare D7 and Walker Tienkung. Detailed analysis of sensors, navigation, mobility, and battery life.
D7 by Pudu Robotics vs Agibot A2 Lite by AgiBot
D7 or Agibot A2 Lite? Compare specs, navigation, battery, sensors, and real-world performance.
D7 by Pudu vs Green by Sberbank Robots
Compare D7 and Green humanoid robots by Pudu Robotics and Sberbank on AI, mobility, sensors, and software features.
D7 vs Cruzr S2: Key Differences
Compare D7 and Cruzr S2 humanoid robots by Pudu and UBTECH on mobility, manipulation, battery, and industrial use.
D7 vs AlphaBot 2: Humanoid Robot Comparison
Compare D7 and AlphaBot 2 humanoid robots by design, AI, mobility, sensors, and battery for industrial and research use.
KUAVO-MY vs D7: Key Differences in Humanoid Robots
Compare KUAVO-MY and D7 humanoid robots by Leju and Pudu Robotics on sensors, mobility, AI, and software support.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 AnswersVerified answers, company specifications, and deployment details about Pudu Robotics
What is Pudu Robotics?
Pudu Robotics is a Shenzhen company, founded in 2016, that makes commercial service robots for delivery and cleaning and, since 2024, semi-humanoid and humanoid robots such as the D7 and D9.
Who founded Pudu Robotics?
Pudu Robotics was founded in 2016 by Felix Zhang, also known as Zhang Tao, a graduate of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology who leads the company.
What is the PUDU D9?
The PUDU D9 is Pudu's first full-size bipedal humanoid, unveiled in December 2024. It is 170 cm tall, weighs 65 kg, has 42 degrees of freedom and carries more than 20 kg.
What is the PUDU D7?
The PUDU D7 is Pudu's semi-humanoid robot, released in 2024 before the D9, with a wheeled base and two arms for service and light industrial work.
How many robots has Pudu sold?
Pudu says it has shipped more than 80,000 robots to over 60 countries, serving dining, retail, healthcare and manufacturing customers.
How much has Pudu Robotics raised?
Pudu raised about US$150 million at a US$1.5 billion valuation in April 2026. Its investors have included Tencent, Sequoia Capital China and Meituan.
Is Pudu Robotics going public?
Pudu has been reported to be planning a China or Hong Kong initial public offering, following other Chinese robotics companies that listed in Hong Kong in 2026.
How much does the PUDU D9 cost?
Pudu has not published a price for the D9. The company positions its humanoids for commercial service work, and customers arrange purchases directly with Pudu.
Verified Data & Editorial Assurance
Compiled from verified corporate filings, official Pudu Robotics datasheets, and robotics engineering registries. Information has been verified against official manufacturer documentation. For commercial procurement or proprietary integrations, contact the manufacturer directly.