Just when you thought the uncanny valley couldn’t get any more crowded, Shanghai-based DroidUp has introduced Moya, a humanoid robot that aims to smile its way into your home. Debuting in Shanghai, Moya presents a friendly face to the world, capable of nodding, making eye contact, and walking with a disconcertingly natural gait.
The real trick up its sleeve is a modular design that allows its appearance to be fully customized. This isn’t just a pretty facade; beneath the swappable skin lies the brand-new Walker 3 skeleton, the true star of the show. The Walker platform is an evolution of the Walker 2, a bot that famously snagged third place at the world’s first humanoid half-marathon in Beijing.
DroidUp has apparently learned a thing or two from putting its robots through endurance sports. The new Walker 3 skeleton boasts improved cooling and longevity, thanks in part to new lightweight lattice “muscle” materials designed for smoother, more efficient movement. While specific specs for the Walker 3 are under wraps, its predecessor stood 1.7 meters tall, weighed a mere 30 kg, and could walk at up to 3 m/s.
Why is this important?
DroidUp, now comfortably settled in Shanghai’s Zhangjiang Robot Valley, is making a clear play for the consumer and service markets. While other companies are chasing warehouse logistics or back-flipping bragging rights, DroidUp is explicitly targeting elder care, companionship, and everyday household integration. Moya represents a softer, more approachable vision for humanoids. The question remains: is the world ready for a robot that can not only help with chores but also offer a customizable, reassuring smile? If its underlying tech can outlast competitors on a marathon course, it might just have the endurance to find out.
