Chinese robotics company DroidUp has created a ‘fully biometric’ robot named ‘Moya’ that’s blurring the lines between science fiction and reality.
Robots are becoming increasingly advanced at a rapid pace. Companies are already working on mass-producing AI-powered bots that can complete simple household tasks like folding clothes and washing dishes, while others move so realistically that developers have had to cut them open at showcases to prove they’re not actually human actors wearing suits.
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While most of these robots are clearly machines, one tech startup is seeking to make their newest product as close to human as possible, even making it give off body heat to mimic a real person.
Moya is equipped with body heat and dense ‘skin’ for human companionship
DroidUp is a robotics company based out of Shanghai that specializes in designing and manufacturing “humanoid” robots.
Its latest creation, named ‘Moya,’ is going viral thanks to its uncanny resemblance to a real person. Described by Chinese news outlets as “the world’s first highly bionic robot,” Moya is capable of realistic, advanced humanoid movement and expressions that set it apart from others of its kind.
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DroidUpMoya was developed with human companionship in mind.
Moya stands at 5 feet 5 inches tall (165 cm) and weighs around 70 lbs (31 kg). Users can switch out the bot’s parts to give it a male or female build, change its hair, and customize it to their whims.
DroidUp added extra layers of flesh-like padding beneath Moya’s silicone frame to make it feel more human to the touch, even including a ribcage. A camera behind her eyes helps Moya to track its surroundings and communicate with people.
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That’s not all; Moya is also heated, with a body temperature of 90 – 97 degrees Fahrenheit (32 – 36 degrees Celsius) to mimic humans’ body heat.
Speaking to the Shanghai Eye, DroidUp founder Li Quingdu argued that a “robot that truly serves human life should be warm, almost like a living being that people can connect with,” not a cold, metal machine.
That’s exactly what DroidUp has designed Moya for; the company hopes to sell these models to healthcare companies and advertise them as ‘social companions.’
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Moya is projected to cost around $173,000 and is expected to become available for sale in late 2026.
This is the latest invention from a Chinese robotics company to go viral after Shanghai-based startup Agibot Innovations set a Guinness World Record in 2025 when its humanoid robot walked 100km completely unassisted, braving traffic, pedestrians, and unsteady terrain.