[Editor's Note] While conventional AI has focused on inference and generation within digital data, Physical AI acts and reacts directly in the real world through sensors, edge computing, robots, and control systems. The implementation of Physical AI can significantly advance industrial innovation and automation because it allows AI to act and solve problems directly in the real world, and it interacts directly with the real world. Accordingly, global companies including NVIDIA, Tesla, and Google are making massive investments in Physical AI, and the related market is expected to grow explosively. To implement such Physical AI, recognition technologies such as sensors, as well as edge computing and embedded systems—including local computation for real-time data processing—and robotics and control technologies are essential. Accordingly, e4ds news has organized a series to examine key technologies and implementation strategies, ranging from the concept of physical AI to market outlooks, related technologies, and real-world examples.


The era of 'Physical AI' has arrived, as artificial intelligence (AI) expands beyond the digital space into the physical world.

With various implementations such as humanoid robots, autonomous vehicles, drones, and logistics automation robots appearing in industrial settings, 'AI that acts in reality' is gaining attention, moving beyond AI that simply analyzes data.

On the other hand, the biggest obstacle in the diffusion process is the absence of an Integrated Operating System.

Experts unanimously agree that “the future of physical AI ultimately depends on who preempts the operating system.”

■ Integrated Operating System, Central Nervous System

An integrated operating system is a standardized platform that encompasses the hardware, software, networks, sensors, and actuators necessary for physical AI to operate in the real world.

While existing Robot Operating Systems (ROS) served as middleware for software development, the Integrated Operating System goes beyond this to become a 'central nervous system' that enables various devices and services to be connected through a single common language and interface.

NVIDIA integrates GPUs, edge computing, simulation, and AI models &It is pursuing a strategy to become the 'operating system of physical AI'.

Just as Windows was necessary in the PC era and Android in the mobile era, the era of physical AI requires a general-purpose and scalable operating system.

■ Not just a simple technical convenience, but a platform where everyone participates together

① Compatibility and Scalability
Currently, each company and research institution is developing its own proprietary control system to operate robots.

On the other hand, this method has poor interoperability and incurs massive development costs every time a new device is added.

Once an integrated operating system is established, various robots and devices can operate on the same platform, maximizing industrial synergy.

② Formation of an industrial ecosystem
The integrated operating system creates a platform ecosystem in which companies, research institutions, and the government participate together, rather than merely providing technical convenience.

Just as ROS led the democratization of robot development by sharing vast packages through the open-source community, an OS dedicated to physical AI can become a core infrastructure for securing a leading position in the market by promoting global cooperation and standardization.

③ Security and Safety
Because physical AI interacts directly with humans in the real world, safety issues are critical.

The integrated operating system enhances security by unifying data processing, authorization management, and real-time control, and enables stable response even in unpredictable environments.

■ NVIDIA Establishes Virtuous Cycle with Integrated Stack Strategy

Nvidia is the company making the most prominent moves in the competition for physical AI operating systems.

NVIDIA is transplanting its success formula from the GPU market directly into robotics, We are building a horizontal platform that encompasses hardware, software, and simulation.

In terms of hardware, the Jetson platform provides scalable edge AI computing performance ranging from small drones to humanoid robots.

In simulations, the Omniverse-based Isaac Sim has established itself as a key tool for solving 'Sim-to-Real' problems by providing a physically accurate digital twin environment.

In the AI model, Project GR00T is a general-purpose humanoid foundation model that learns from vast synthetic data generated in simulations and transfers it to a real robot.

In data generation, the generative AI platform Cosmos accelerates GR00T training by creating various simulation environments using only text or image prompts.

In this way, NVIDIA has established a powerful virtuous cycle by closely integrating hardware, software, and data pipelines.

This is regarded as a strategic move to secure the operating system for the era of physical AI, going beyond mere product competition.


■ Establishment of internationally accepted standards is essential

Several strategies are needed to develop an integrated operating system suitable for physical AI.

First, establish internationally accepted standards and enable various companies and researchers to participate through an open platform.I have to.

In addition, a multimodal structure capable of processing various inputs, such as text, voice, video, and 3D spatial data, is essential.

In addition, it is necessary to support real-time control and distributed processing by combining ultra-low latency and ultra-high-speed communication (5G/6G) with edge AI chips.

Furthermore, to reduce the Sim-to-Real gap, high-fidelity simulation and digital twin technologies must be integrated into the operating system.

■ Winner of the Physical AI Era

Physical AI is not merely a technological fad, but a complex result of artificial intelligence evolving by combining with the physical environment.

On the other hand, for this massive trend to spread across the entire industry, an invisible infrastructure known as an integrated operating system is absolutely necessary.

With major countries, including Korea, designating Physical AI as a national strategic technology and continuing massive investments, the development and standardization of integrated operating systems are becoming not merely technical tasks, but strategic choices that will determine industrial dominance.

The winners of the physical AI era will ultimately be the nations and companies that build the first and most widely scalable operating systems.

NVIDIA's integrated stack strategy clearly reveals its direction.