China has surprised the world with Moya, a humanoid robot that’s so realistic that it seems like a real person. This robot can walk, keep visual contact, smile, and even wink (something many humans cannot do) with an impressive level of detail. Moya is created by the Chinese company DroidUp and represents a huge advance in biomimetic robots technology, designed to mimic the way human beings move and act.
Moya was presented in an event in Shanghai and, according to DroidUp, this is the first smart humanoid totally biomimetic in the world. Its realism and ability to interact naturally left many attendees impressed—and even slightly unsettled. So, let’s learn more about Moya, shall we?
What makes this robot so special?
Moya is more than a simple robot with artificial intelligence, it’s capable of perceiving its environment, reasoning, and moving around the physical space. According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), this humanoid can:
- Display micro-expressions, mimicking human emotional gestures.
- Smile and nod during a conversation naturally.
- Maintain constant eye contact with people.
- Walk with a very human-like posture, achieving 92% accuracy in its movements.
These features make Moya one of the most human-like robots ever created, capable of interacting in ways that feel very close to real human behavior.
Appearance and physical features
Moya’s design is thought to be extremely realistic, let’s have a look at some of its features:
- It’s 1.65 meters tall and it weighs about 32 kg, with proportions similar to an adult human.
- Moya is modular, meaning its external appearance can be customized without changing its internal structure.
- Its body temperature can be maintained between 32 and 36 degrees Celsius, enhancing the sense of life.
Its realism was so striking that some attendees at the Shanghai event reported feeling uncomfortable watching it. Llewellyn Cheung, a journalist from SCMP, noted that several visitors said Moya’s lifelike features made them uneasy.
What will Moya be used for?
Opposite to other humanoid robots, like Elon Musk’s Optimus, DroidUp is not planning on using Moya as a domestic robot. The idea is to use it in spaces where human-robot interaction adds value, including:
- Shops, offices, and public spaces where natural interaction is beneficial.
- Hospitals and healthcare centers.
- Schools and educational environments.
Moya is made to make talking and interacting with robots feel natural, using realistic movements and gestures that seem human.
Availability
Now that you know more about Moya, you might be wondering when this technology will be available, right? And most importantly, how much is it? Well, you won’t have to wait that long because DroidUp has announced that Moya could go on sale by late 2026. Its initial price is expected to be 1.2 million Japanese yen, around 6,500 euros, though final pricing and availability have not yet been confirmed.
This makes Moya a high-value robot, with its price reflecting the cutting-edge technology and extreme realism it offers. It is one of the most advanced and impressive humanoid machines available today.
So…
If you thought we were already surrounded by technology, by 2026, when Moya is expected to hit the market, you might see these humanoid robots in hospitals, schools, shops, and offices.
I mean, imagine looking at a machine that moves and reacts almost exactly like a human, would you like to experience something like this? Maybe you would feel the same as the people attending the Shanghai event, surprised but a bit uncomfortable. We’ll see how this trend of humanoid robots goes in the future but, for now, it’s more a reality than an idea.