People's Daily Front-Page Spotlight | Direct Drive Tech's D1 Robot: A New Benchmark for Embodied AI
July 15, 2026

On June 13, the *People's Daily* published a front-page feature titled "Accelerating the Journey of Scientific Research Achievements from Lab to Production Line," highlighting the D1 modular robot developed by Direct Drive Tech and commending its efforts to drive the efficient transformation of research outcomes through embodied AI technology.

As a company specializing in platform technologies for embodied robots, Direct Drive Tech adheres to a low-profile, pragmatic approach to R&D, focusing deeply on direct-drive technology and the embodied AI sector. The company was founded by Zhang Di, a protégé of Professor Li Zexiang from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The D1 robot, which garnered this official media spotlight, stands as a flagship example of the company's embodied AI technology.

The D1 robot features an innovative modular design that allows for separation and reassembly within just three seconds, enabling seamless switching between bipedal and quadrupedal forms—much like a "Transformer"—to adapt to diverse operational scenarios. Leveraging the Greater Bay Area's robust industrial supply chain, the team has rapidly executed the entire process from R&D and prototyping to mass production. Currently, they are conducting tests in complex environments such as short-haul transport and firefighting/rescue operations, continually expanding the boundaries of the robot's applications.

From its origins in a HKUST laboratory to its current base at the Songshan Lake industrial hub, Direct Drive Tech has remained steadfast in its commitment to deep-diving into core robotics technologies and embodied AI. The team focuses on developing high-performance, highly adaptable general-purpose robot products and technology platforms, thereby driving quality upgrades in the sci-tech industry and contributing to the development of my country's intelligent robotics sector and the steady advancement of the "15th Five-Year Plan."

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