Droidup's heated humanoid robot Moya

While most humanoid makers are busy programming backflips and crate-lifting routines, one team wants to see if hardware can mimic a living human being well enough to comfort you.

Droidup, a two-year-old Shanghai startup officially named Shanghai Robotics, showcased its humanoid Moya at Jianquan Robotics Valley this week. The reveal quickly divided the internet between genuine curiosity and sharp skepticism.

Artificial spine and heated skin

Moya stands 5.5 feet tall and weighs roughly 70 pounds. She is built on the Walker 3 chassis, the same underlying platform that took third place in the world's first humanoid half marathon.

Unlike endurance bots, Moya is designed specifically to obscure her mechanical nature. Her silicone skin runs at 90 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit, keeping her warm to the touch just like an actual person.

Beneath the surface, Droidup placed padding designed to simulate the feel of fat and muscle tissue around a rib cage structure. Instead of rigid jointed segments, the torso bends along an artificial spine to distribute weight more naturally.

She also aims to look you in the eye. Embedded cameras track facial expressions, prompting Moya to nod, smile, and narrow her eyes in real time as if actively listening.

92% natural gait, but that juice clip looks suspicious

Droidup's flagship claim is a gait that mirrors natural human movement with 92% accuracy, though that figure has not been independently verified.

The walking motion is undeniably smoother than typical industrial humanoids. Still, users on Reddit's r/singularity noted that her steps resemble a cautious elderly person rather than an effortless stride.

The promo also faced immediate blowback over continuity. A clip showing Moya picking up a bottle of orange juice and pouring a drink appeared heavily spliced, leaving viewers guessing what she could handle on her own.

Critics also flagged her hands and stiff facial features up close. For many, earlier unscripted footage of live attendees touching Moya was far more convincing than the edited teaser.

Behind the curtain lies a tight financial reality. Droidup raised $28.5 million but burned nearly half on payroll and recruitment. With roughly $15 million left and a 32-person team, their planned initial run of 50 units has zero room for error.

Why it matters

We think Droidup's pivot toward human intimacy is a clever end-run around players like Unitree, who dominate manufacturing scale and rugged industrial movement. Engineering an artificial spine and body-temperature skin hits the exact psychological cues companion robotics needs.

However, the execution still wobbles. The stiff facial mimicry and chopped chore videos show that true domestic utility remains out of reach for now.

Capital is the real ticking clock. Operating an ambitious hardware startup on less than $15 million means Moya's 50-unit pilot must convert immediately into real credibility, or the runway disappears before the tech catches up.