Pudu Robotics

Pudu Robotics ranks among the world’s leading commercial service robot manufacturers, with cumulative shipments exceeding 100,000 units across 60+ countries. Founded in 2016 by Felix Zhang, a graduate of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the company has evolved from a restaurant delivery robot startup into a broad service robotics enterprise serving healthcare, hospitality, retail, and industrial sectors.

Company Overview

Headquartered in Shenzhen’s technology corridor, Pudu Robotics emerged during China’s AI and robotics boom with a focus on solving labor challenges in service industries. The company’s initial breakthrough came through partnerships with major restaurant chains including Haidilao, establishing proof-of-concept for indoor autonomous delivery before expanding into healthcare and other verticals.

The COVID-19 pandemic proved significant for Pudu’s healthcare ambitions. During 2020, the company deployed hundreds of robots to hospitals in Seoul, Beijing, Wuhan, and other cities worldwide, demonstrating the value of contactless delivery in infection control scenarios. This healthcare pivot accelerated product development specifically addressing medical facility requirements.

Pudu has secured cumulative funding exceeding 1 billion RMB through multiple rounds led by prominent investors including Tencent, Meituan, Sequoia China, Shenzhen Capital Group, and Greater Bay Area Fund. In August 2024, the company’s Jianhu manufacturing facility commenced operations with annual production capacity of 100,000 units, supporting global market expansion.

Core Products

HolaBot

Pudu’s flagship high-capacity delivery robot designed for demanding healthcare and industrial environments. With 60kg payload capacity and 120L volume across four adjustable trays, HolaBot handles bulk medical supply delivery, meal distribution, and specimen transport. IP67 waterproof rating and integrated pager system enable deployment in clinical settings requiring strict hygiene protocols.

BellaBot

The company’s most recognizable product featuring cat-inspired bionic design and advanced human-robot interaction capabilities. BellaBot combines dual SLAM navigation (laser and visual) with three Intel RealSense RGBD depth cameras for precise 3D obstacle avoidance. 40kg payload capacity across four trays supports medication delivery and patient meal service in healthcare facilities.

PuduBot 2

Second-generation delivery platform incorporating enhanced SLAM navigation, high-precision LiDAR, and multi-modal positioning for dynamic hospital environments. Modular design enables customization for specific departmental workflows including pharmacy-to-ward delivery and laboratory specimen transport.

PUDU CC1

Four-in-one commercial cleaning robot integrating sweeping, scrubbing, vacuuming, and floor washing functions. Deployed in healthcare facilities for maintaining hygiene standards in patient areas, corridors, and common spaces with minimal manual intervention.

Technology & Innovation

Pudu has achieved vertical integration of four critical robot components: motors, single-line LiDAR, RGB depth cameras, and computing/motion control platforms. This self-developed supply chain provides cost advantages and enables rapid product iteration unavailable to competitors relying on third-party components.

The PUDU SCHEDULER system employs decentralized architecture enabling direct robot-to-robot communication and autonomous decision-making, reducing network infrastructure requirements in hospital deployments. The PUDU CLOUD platform provides fleet management, operations analytics, and remote maintenance capabilities across distributed healthcare installations.

In 2024, Pudu expanded into humanoid robotics with the PUDU D7 semi-humanoid and PUDU D9 full-scale bipedal humanoid robot (170cm, 65kg, 42 degrees of freedom). While primarily targeting general service applications, these platforms demonstrate the company’s advancing capabilities in complex robotic systems.

Market Presence

Pudu commands significant market share in commercial service robotics, with overseas revenue comprising over 80% of total sales. The company maintains direct operations and distribution partnerships across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America.

Healthcare deployments span multiple facility types including tertiary hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and long-term care facilities. Major hospital clients use Pudu robots for intra-facility logistics including pharmacy delivery, meal distribution, laboratory specimen transport, and supply chain automation.

The Jianhu manufacturing facility represents China’s largest dedicated service robot production base, supporting quality consistency and rapid fulfillment for global healthcare customers.

Key Milestones

• 2016: Company founded in Shenzhen
• 2019: Established partnerships with major restaurant chains including Haidilao
• 2020: COVID-19 pandemic deployment to hundreds of hospitals worldwide
• 2020: Completed Series B funding with Meituan as exclusive investor
• 2021: Raised approximately 1 billion RMB in C1+C2 rounds
• 2023: Completed C3 and C4 funding rounds
• 2024: Jianhu manufacturing facility commissioned (100,000 unit annual capacity)
• 2024: Launched PUDU D7 and D9 humanoid robot platforms
• 2025: 100,000th robot unit shipped globally

Frequently Asked Questions

What robots does Pudu offer for healthcare applications?

Pudu’s healthcare-optimized products include HolaBot (60kg capacity, IP67 rated), BellaBot (40kg capacity with advanced interaction), and PuduBot 2 for delivery applications. PUDU CC1 addresses cleaning requirements. These robots support medication delivery, meal distribution, specimen transport, and facility hygiene maintenance.

Does Pudu require medical device certification for hospital use?

Pudu’s delivery and cleaning robots are classified as commercial service equipment rather than medical devices, so they do not require NMPA, FDA, or CE medical device certification. However, products comply with general electrical safety and EMC standards applicable to commercial robotics.

How does Pudu’s hospital deployment work?

Pudu provides turnkey deployment including site survey, navigation mapping, system integration with hospital elevators and access controls, staff training, and ongoing maintenance support. The PUDU CLOUD platform enables remote monitoring and fleet management across multiple facilities.