Chinese Robotics Firm Unveils Biomimetic Humanoid "Moya"
Capable of Eye Contact and Subtle Facial Expressions... Aimed at Home, Healthcare, and Education Uses
A humanoid robot capable of human-like movements and subtle facial expressions has been unveiled in China.
According to science-focused media outlet Investing Engineering, on January 30 (local time) Chinese robotics company DroidUp unveiled a humanoid robot named "Moya" at an event held in Shanghai, China. DroidUp introduced the robot as "the world's first fully biomimetic embodied intelligence robot."
About 165 cm tall, weighing about 32 kg... designed to interact with humans
Moya was developed based on the concept of embodied artificial intelligence (embodied AI), which perceives, thinks, and acts within a physical environment. Unlike conventional artificial intelligence systems that operate only in digital environments, it is designed to function in real-world spaces and interact with humans.
In a video released by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP), Moya is seen smiling, nodding, and making eye contact with a person. Although its movements are somewhat mechanical, it also walks in a posture similar to that of a human. DroidUp explained that Moya can replicate subtle human facial expressions and said this is a high-level capability even among humanoid robots currently under development. The company also emphasized that its walking accuracy reaches 92%.
Moya is about 165 cm tall and weighs about 32 kg, with body proportions similar to those of an adult woman. DroidUp stated, "This robot is designed to maintain a body temperature of 32 to 36 degrees Celsius," adding that this is "a feature intended to enhance a sense of lifelikeness during interactions."
Moya, the humanoid robot unveiled by Chinese robotics company Deuroideueop, is walking. Deuroideueop website
Some say its human-like movements feel 'unsettling'
Moya's appearance and behavior have sparked mixed reactions on Chinese social media platforms. SCMP reported, "Some users marveled at the robot's realistic look, while others said its movements, which are too similar to those of humans, actually made them feel uncomfortable." Analysts noted that this reaction is linked to the so-called "uncanny valley" phenomenon, in which people feel discomfort toward entities that look almost human but not quite identical.
Moya appears to have been developed based on DroidUp's existing humanoid research, but the company has not disclosed detailed information about its core technologies.
DroidUp also revealed plans to deploy Moya not only as a household robot, but also in commercial settings such as healthcare and education, where prolonged interaction with humans is required. The company explained that it is targeting spaces where friendliness and accessibility are more important than industrial tasks or demonstrations of highly complex movements.
According to SCMP, Moya could be released to the market as early as the end of this year. Its initial price is reported to be around 1.2 million yuan (approximately 253 million won). The final price and detailed sales schedule have not yet been officially announced.
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