A humanoid robot that walks, maintains eye contact, and displays subtle facial expressions has drawn attention on Chinese social media after videos showcasing its capabilities were circulated. The robot, named Moya, was unveiled in Shanghai by the robotics company DroidUp, which describes it as the world’s first fully biomimetic embodied intelligent robot.

Moya is built around the idea of embodied artificial intelligence, systems that can perceive, reason, and act within the physical world rather than operating purely in digital environments.

In the footage shared by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the humanoid is seen smiling, nodding, making eye contact, and walking with a gait that closely resembles human movement. The company claims Moya can replicate human micro-expressions, a feature that places it among the most humanlike robots currently under development.

Standing 1.65 metres (5.5 feet) tall and weighing around 32 kilograms (70 pounds), Moya has been designed with proportions close to those of an adult human. DroidUp also states that the robot maintains a body temperature between 32 and 36 degrees Celsius (89.6°F and 96.8°F), a detail intended to enhance its lifelike presence during interaction. The company reports that Moya’s walking posture has an accuracy of 92 percent, highlighting its focus on stable, natural locomotion.

Moya’s appearance and behaviour have prompted mixed reactions online, particularly among Chinese social media users. According to Llewellyn Cheung from SCMP, some viewers expressed fascination with its realism, others described the robot’s movement as unsettling, reflecting a familiar tension associated with the “uncanny valley,” the discomfort people feel when artificial beings appear almost, but not quite, human.

Moya’s development appears to build on DroidUp’s earlier humanoid robotics work, though the company has disclosed limited technical details about the platform underlying the robot. According to the RoboHorizon website, Moya is built on a “Walker 3” chassis. DroidUp has not formally named or detailed this platform in its own disclosures.

The use of the term “Walker 3” may cause confusion, as “Walker” is commonly associated with humanoid robots developed by the more established firm UBTECH. However, neither DroidUp nor UBTECH has indicated any confirmed connection between their platforms.

RoboHorizon also reports that Moya features a modular design, allowing its external appearance to be customised without altering the underlying mechanical structure.

comes at a time when humanoid development is branching in multiple directions globally. Some companies deliberately design robots with cartoon-like or stylised appearances to avoid human comparison, while others emphasise clearly mechanical forms suited to industrial work. A smaller group, including DroidUp, continues to pursue highly realistic designs that aim to cross the uncanny valley rather than avoid it.

DroidUp is not presenting Moya solely as a domestic robot. According to SCMP, the company envisions the humanoid being used across healthcare, education, and other commercial environments where human-robot interaction plays a central role.

Rather than focusing on industrial tasks or high-speed athletic demonstrations, the company appears to be targeting settings that require prolonged interaction and a sense of approachability. Moya is expected to enter the market by late 2026, with a reported starting price of around 1.2 million yuan, according to figures cited in the SCMP video. Final pricing and availability details have not yet been formally announced. (Interesting Engineering)

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