FlashBot Arm is a semi-humanoid service robot from China's Pudu Robotics: a wheeled delivery robot with a lockable compartment, plus two arms and dexterous hands. With them it presses elevator buttons, swipes access cards and opens doors, so it can deliver items between floors of hotels and offices without building changes.
History and launch
Pudu unveiled the FlashBot Arm on March 31, 2025. It was developed in the company's Pudu X-Lab as an extension of its FlashBot delivery robot, and Pudu calls it a "semi-humanoid embodied AI service robot".
Design and hardware
The robot measures 539 × 515 × 1440 mm. It has two liftable 7-DoF arms and Pudu's own DH11 dexterous hands (6 active and 5 passive degrees of freedom, 11 in total). The two arms cover a 1600 × 2000 × 1600 mm workspace, which Pudu describes as up to 2 m of operating diameter.
Below sits an independently suspended chassis and a dual-door enclosed compartment rated for 15 kg; Pudu does not list a separate arm payload. Runtime is about 8 hours unloaded, charging takes 4 hours, and the robot returns to its dock on its own when the battery runs low. It needs a path at least 65 cm wide.
Sensing includes RGB-D cameras, lidar, panoramic cameras and pressure-sensitive skin, with compliant force control that stops the robot immediately on contact. A 10.1-inch touchscreen handles interaction.
Software and AI
Navigation combines VSLAM and laser SLAM for 3D mapping and real-time obstacle avoidance. A large language model handles conversation and helps break requests into steps and plan tasks. Pudu stresses whole-body control, coordinating the base, arms and hands, and the robot can share and divide tasks with other robots on site.
Applications and deployments
Pudu's lead use case is hotels: the robot picks up an item, rides the elevator by itself and delivers to the room, even where elevators lack IoT integration. It also targets offices, restaurants, retail and healthcare. Pudu has not published customer names or unit counts for this model.
Manufacturer
Pudu Robotics is headquartered in Shenzhen with R&D centers in Chengdu and Hong Kong, led by founder and CEO Felix Zhang. It has shipped more than 120,000 service robots to over 80 countries and regions. In April 2026 it raised nearly 150 million USD at a valuation above 1.5 billion USD, taking total funding past 300 million USD.
Price and availability
Pudu does not publish a price for the FlashBot Arm; it is sold through the company's sales team.
Timeline
- 2025-03 FlashBot Arm unveiled, developed by Pudu X-Lab
- 2026-04 Pudu raises nearly 150 million USD at a valuation above 1.5 billion USD
Sources
- PUDU FlashBot Arm, Pudu Robotics (2026)
- Pudu Robotics Unveils FlashBot Arm: A Semi-Humanoid Embodied AI Service Robot for Commercial Applications, PR Newswire / Kyodo News PR Wire (2025-03-31)
- Semi-Humanoid AI Service Robot Unveiled for Commercial Businesses, AI Business (2025-04)
- Pudu Robotics: $150 Million At $1.5 Billion Valuation Raised For Commercial Service Robotics Expansion, Pulse 2.0 (2026-04-23)
Updated: 2026-10-10
Verification and limitations
This entry requires an up-to-date manufacturer specification check.
MERA field measurement report: not published. Demonstration footage and manufacturer specifications are not a MERA test under event conditions.
Data and provenance for AI agents ↗Compared with the catalogue
- At 144 cm the Pudu Robotics FlashBot Arm is taller than 16% of the humanoids in the catalogue (median: 170 cm).
- It has 14 degrees of freedom against a catalogue median of 28; more degrees of freedom usually means finer arm and hand movement.
- It is one of 3 Pudu Robotics models in the catalogue and one of 128 humanoids from China.
Capabilities
Frequently asked questions
Can the Pudu FlashBot Arm use elevators on its own?
Yes. Its hands press buttons, swipe cards and open doors, so no elevator integration is needed.
How many degrees of freedom does the FlashBot Arm have?
Seven per arm, plus 11 per DH11 hand (6 active, 5 passive).
What is the FlashBot Arm's runtime?
About 8 hours unloaded, with a 4-hour charge.
How much can the FlashBot Arm carry?
Its compartment holds up to 15 kg; Pudu does not list an arm payload.
How much does the FlashBot Arm cost?
The price is not public.
How much does the Pudu Robotics FlashBot Arm cost?
The manufacturer has not published a price for the Pudu Robotics FlashBot Arm. You can send a purchase enquiry through MERA Robotics.
Is the Pudu Robotics FlashBot Arm available to buy?
Status: Shipping: the manufacturer sells and ships this robot.
How tall and heavy is the Pudu Robotics FlashBot Arm?
Height: 144 cm, degrees of freedom: 14.
How do I buy the Pudu Robotics FlashBot Arm through MERA Robotics?
Click “I want to buy” or fill in the form on this page. MERA Robotics will reply whether and on what terms the model is available and can help deploy it with the MERA OS conversation system.
Data: Pudu Robotics. Specs from the manufacturer; they may change, always confirm with the manufacturer before buying.
