with a VinMotion robot that’s powered with Qualcomm’s Dragonwing IQ10 processor.
Photo courtesy Qualcomm
SAN DIEGO – Qualcomm, Inc. (Nasdaq: QCOM) may be known for powering Android phones and Microsoft computers, but the tech giant is also making investments in another emerging field: humanoid robots.
Robotics were a trendy part of this year’s CES, the annual consumer technology trade show hosted by the Consumer Technology Association in Las Vegas.
Hyundai announced that it would begin producing the Atlas robot, developed by its subsidiary Boston Dynamics, at its factory in Savannah, Georgia, while Tesla has brought its Optimus robotics project to the floor of its Austin Gigafactory, with third-generation Optimus robots completing tasks like sorting parts and moving boxes.
Qualcomm is at the center of the broader industry push for humanoid robotics development, announcing its newest processor designed specifically for human-sized robots, the Dragonwing IQ10 series.
Dragonwing processors already power robots made by companies like Booster Robotics and VinMotion, according to Qualcomm, which allowed visitors to its booth at CES interact with humanoid robots.
“As pioneers in energy efficient, high–performance physical AI systems, we know what it takes to make even the most complex robotics systems perform reliably, safely, and at scale,” stated Nakul Duggal, Qualcomm Technologies’ executive vice president and group general manager of automotive, industrial and embedded internet of things and robotics.
More Automotive Partnerships
Qualcomm also expanded on its automotive division, announcing agreements with Volkswagen to deploy the Snapdragon Digital Chassis platform in the automaker’s vehicles and with Hyundai Mobis to co-develop in-vehicle software for fast-growing markets like India.
Snapdragon Digital Chassis is Qualcomm’s overarching automotive hardware and software platform, including features like occupant monitoring throughout the vehicle, road condition monitoring and insights and a personalized artificial intelligence-based agentic system designed to anticipate a driver’s needs.
Qualcomm’s automotive technology powers more than 75 million vehicles worldwide and the company expects that number to continue increasing as more and more drivers adopt what it referred to as a “software-defined vehicle.”
“The Snapdragon Digital Chassis provides the foundation for software-defined architectures, enabling next-generation infotainment and advanced driver assistance systems that emphasize safety, performance, and scalability,” Duggal stated.
Under the company’s long-term supply agreement with the Volkswagen Group, Qualcomm will serve as the automaker’s primary technology partner for the launch of Volkswagen’s software-defined vehicle platform, a joint venture with Rivian Automotive expected to become available to the western hemisphere in 2027.
Volkswagen and Rivian are expected to use the Snapdragon Cockpit Platform, which includes features like personalized climate and seating settings, route optimization and voice and gesture controls for drivers.
“Together with Volkswagen, we are delivering transformative in-vehicle experiences for millions of drivers and passengers worldwide while providing the technology backbone needed to lead in the era of intelligent mobility,” Duggal stated.
Getting with Google
Qualcomm also expanded its existing partnership with Google to integrate Snapdragon Digital Chassis with Google’s automotive software platform, improving on in-vehicle software personalization and reducing the time to roll out new features to users.
As a result of the expanded partnership, Snapdragon virtual systems on a chip – which integrate all of the significant components of a computer system on one processing chip – will become available on Google Cloud, allowing automakers to design and test software features in the cloud without the need for vehicle hardware.
“This collaboration allows us to integrate our leading software and AI capabilities with Qualcomm Technologies’ foundational hardware, creating a unified, scalable platform that will accelerate development for automakers globally and ultimately deliver safer, smarter, and more personalized experiences for every driver,” Google Vice President of Engineering Patrick Brady stated.
Qualcomm, Inc.
FOUNDED: 1985
CEO: Cristiano Amon
HEADQUARTERS: Sorrento Mesa, San Diego
BUSINESS: Fabless semiconductor maker, specialist in developing and commercializing foundational technologies for the wireless industry.
REVENUE: $44.28 billion in fiscal year 2025
EMPLOYEES: 50,000
STOCK: QCOM (Nasdaq)
WEBSITE: qualcomm.com
CONTACT: [email protected]
NOTABLE: Qualcomm signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabian artificial intelligence company Humain in 2025 to develop data center infrastructure, including processor accelerator chips and racks for AI data centers.
Eli is an award-winning reporter primarily covering the tech and life sciences industries. He previously worked as the San Diego City Hall reporter for the regional wire City News Service. He has also covered public health, transportation and state and local politics in the San Francisco Bay Area for Local News Matters, the nonprofit arm of the regional wire Bay City News Service, where he also oversaw the development and daily content management of the outlet’s public health and COVID-19 news and resource webpage. He is also a contributing writer covering Minor League Baseball for the analysis and commentary website Baseball Prospectus. Eli is a graduate of San Francisco State University and a native of Northern California.
