Qualcomm Debuts Dragonwing IQ10 Series to Power Next-Gen Humanoids and Physical AI

Qualcomm Technologies has unveiled the Dragonwing IQ10 Series, a specialized processor designed to serve as the brain for advanced humanoid robots. Introduced at CES 2026, this new brand replaces the previous RB naming convention to focus exclusively on the era of Physical AI. These intelligent machines are now capable of reasoning and adapting to complex environments in real time.

Unlike traditional smartphone or laptop processors, the Dragonwing IQ10 is engineered for heterogeneous compute tasks specific to robotics. While mobile chips prioritize screen rendering and app performance, this silicon manages the simultaneous demands of balance, locomotion, and manipulation. This specialized focus allows for a much more fluid interaction between a robot and its physical surroundings.

The architecture supports end-to-end AI models such as Vision-Language-Action (VLA), which translate visual data and commands into physical movement. This capability allows robots to process information locally at the edge without relying on cloud connectivity. Such low-latency perception is critical for machines operating in dynamic, unpredictable spaces like warehouses or retail floors.

Safety is a core component of the new suite, featuring a mixed-criticality system that ensures high-level AI does not compromise basic safety functions. The platform also emphasizes extreme power efficiency, a metric where mobile chips often fall short when pushed to robotic limits. High performance-per-watt ensures that battery-operated humanoids can function for hours rather than minutes during a work shift.

Qualcomm is building a collaborative network with industry leaders like Figure and Kuka Robotics to scale these platforms globally. At CES, partners demonstrated humanoids like the VinMotion Motion 2, which utilizes the Dragonwing IQ9 series for service-oriented tasks. These collaborations signify a shift toward deployment-ready robotics that are ready for the factory floor today.

This launch establishes a new standard for how robots interact with the world by integrating hardware, software, and machine learning operations. Developers can now access comprehensive tools to accelerate the transition from prototypes to intelligent, commercial-grade machines. You can find more details about these developments on the official Qualcomm Robotics Page.