Candela

Candela describes itself as China’s first provider of integrated indoor-outdoor intelligent service robots with commercial deployment. Founded in 2016 in Shenzhen, the company has invested over ¥800 million in R&D, accumulating 600+ patent applications across autonomous navigation, cloud computing, and modular robotics.

Company Overview

Candela (Shenzhen) Technology Innovation Co., Ltd. emerged from the intersection of autonomous driving technology and service robotics. The company underwent group restructuring in 2018, establishing Candela Group with specialized subsidiaries focusing on intelligent delivery solutions and municipal cleaning applications.

The company maintains R&D and operational centers across China, with regional divisions in East, North, South, and West China. Its technical team includes researchers from Cambridge University, Nanyang Technological University, National University of Defense Technology, Tsinghua University, Harbin Institute of Technology, and Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

In 2022, Candela completed a ¥375 million Series B funding round at a pre-money valuation of ¥2 billion, underscoring market confidence in its commercial model and technology platform.

Core Products

Sunny S200 Multi-function Cleaning Robot

The Sunny S200 operates as an outdoor autonomous cleaning platform with L4-level self-driving capability. Key features include autonomous path planning, full sweeping coverage, automatic waste bin detection, and intelligent rain avoidance systems. The robot continues operation in light rain and automatically returns to shelter during heavy precipitation.

Candle Medical Multi-function Robot

The Candle robot series serves indoor hospital environments, performing medical supply delivery (medications, IV fluids, specimens, consumables, sterile packages, linens, waste) and disinfection tasks. The modular design enables payload switching between delivery containers and disinfection spray units, achieving multi-function operation with a single robot base.

Technology & Innovation

With ¥800 million invested in R&D and 600+ patents filed, Candela is the only Chinese company providing commercially deployed direct indoor-outdoor autonomous delivery.

Candela’s core competitive advantage lies in its proprietary modular robot architecture. The company pioneered the “split-body” robot concept, allowing autonomous module switching to perform multiple functions including delivery, disinfection, cleaning, and guidance with a single mobile base.

The technology stack encompasses:

• L4 autonomous driving algorithms for both indoor and outdoor environments
• Proprietary navigation and positioning systems
• Cloud-edge collaborative computing
• Fleet management and scheduling platforms
• IoT integration for elevators, doors, and access control systems

Candela remains the only Chinese company providing direct indoor-outdoor delivery capabilities with full commercial deployment.

Market Presence

The company serves three primary market segments: municipal sanitation, healthcare facilities, and commercial buildings.

Healthcare deployments include Wuhan Leishenshan Hospital, Huoshenshan Hospital, and Jinyintan Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic response. The company subsequently expanded to Southern Medical University Shenzhen Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, and 16 hospitals across Yangzhou (completed in 30 days during 2021).

Municipal clients include the National Stadium (Bird’s Nest), National Speed Skating Oval, Changde Municipal Government, Futian Railway Station, Shenzhen Civic Center, and Shenzhen Bay Sports Center. The company provided service support for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Commercial and industrial customers encompass Country Garden, Huawei, CRRC, State Grid, STO Express, Best Express, and ZTO Express.

Key Milestones

• 2016: Company founded in Shenzhen
• 2018: Group restructuring, establishing Candela Group
• 2020: Emergency deployment to Wuhan Leishenshan and Huoshenshan hospitals during COVID-19
• 2021: Completed 16-hospital deployment in Yangzhou within 30 days; 220,000+ delivery and disinfection tasks executed in first two months
• 2022: Series B funding of ¥375 million; service support for Beijing Winter Olympics

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Candela different from other delivery robot companies?

Candela is the only Chinese company offering truly direct indoor-outdoor autonomous delivery. Through the relay system between outdoor Sunny vehicles and indoor Candle robots, materials can be transported across buildings and environments without human intervention.

Does Candela require NMPA medical device approval?

Candela’s robots are classified as service robots performing logistics and cleaning functions, not medical devices. They do not directly interact with patients or perform diagnostic/therapeutic functions, so medical device registration is not applicable.

How many hospitals use Candela robots?

The company has deployed systems in multiple major hospitals including Leishenshan, Huoshenshan, Southern Medical University Shenzhen Hospital, and 16 hospitals across Yangzhou. Specific total installation numbers are not publicly disclosed.