Khaberni - A new humanoid robot named "Moya" (Moya) ignited a wide wave of interaction on social media in China, after videos showcasing its ability to walk, visually interact, and display precise human-like facial expressions remarkably surfaced.
The Chinese robotics-specialized company "DroidUp" revealed "Moya" during an official show in Shanghai, stating that it is the first robot in the world to fully rely on "Embodied AI" technology, which enables the machine to perceive, think, and interact within the real environment, not just the digital world.
According to videos posted by "South China Morning Post", the robot appears smiling, nodding its head, and maintaining eye contact, in addition to a walk very close to natural human movement. It took more than 130,000 steps on ice in freezing temperatures reaching 47.4 Celsius degrees, and successfully drew the Winter Olympics logo on the ice surface.
The developing company confirms that "Moya" can mimic precise facial expressions, making it one of the most human-like robots in the world currently.
Advanced technical specifications
The robot is approximately 1.65 meters tall, weighs around 32 kilograms, and has been designed with dimensions close to that of an adult human body. It also maintains a temperature between 32 to 36 Celsius degrees to enhance the sense of realism during interaction with humans.
The company explained that the accuracy of the robot's walking posture reaches 92%, reflecting its focus on developing stable and natural movement that mimics human behavior.
Varied reactions
The appearance of "Moya" elicited varied reactions among social media users in China, with some expressing great admiration for its realism, while others described it as unsettling or uncomfortable, referring to the "uncanny valley" phenomenon, where humans feel uneasy towards artificial beings that look somewhat human but are not fully human.
Journalist Llewelyn Cheung from SCMP site reported that this split in opinions reflects the ongoing challenge faced by robotics companies when approaching the simulation of human form and behavior.
Despite "Droid Up" not revealing full technical details about the platform used in manufacturing "Moya", technical reports indicate that the robot relies on a structure known as "Walker 3".
It also features a modular design that allows for changes to its external appearance without affecting its mechanical structure, providing flexibility in its future use and development.
Multiple future uses
The company does not promote "Moya" merely as a domestic robot but plans to use it in various fields, including healthcare, education, and commercial environments, where the interactive relationship between human and machine plays a vital role.
Unlike some companies that opt for cartoonish or clear industrial designs, "Droid Up" strives to develop realistic robots aiming to surpass "uncanny valley" instead of avoiding it.
"Moya" is expected to enter the markets by the end of 2026, with an estimated initial price of about 1.2 million Japanese yen, although the company has not officially announced details regarding the precise launch date yet.
