China unveils 13-foot robot that can lift a cow
‘Robots should not merely replicate human forms but surpass human physical limits,’ says NeodraDynamics founder
A Chinese startup has unveiled a 13-foot (four-metre) robot that it claims can carry 500-kilogram loads.
Beijing-based NeodraDynamics said its AI-powered Neo1 humanoid robot is built to exceed the physical limitations of human-sized robots built by competitors.
“Robots should not merely replicate human forms but surpass human physical limits to create unprecedented operational capabilities,” said Yang Tao, founder of NeodraDynamics.
Weighing 1.2 metric tons, the giant robot uses hydraulic actuators rather than standard electric motors to massively increase its force, allowing it to support a combined two-arm payload equivalent to a small car or fully-grown cow.
“Our hydraulic-electric hybrid base technology solves the fundamental power and durability pain points of robots, enabling embodied intelligence to truly take root in industrial scenarios and empower industrial upgrading,” Mr Tao said.
The Neo1 robot, which was unveiled at the 2026 China International Industry Fair this month, is designed to handle industrial workloads in harsh environments, like heavy assembly, mining, or debris removal in disaster zones.
NeodraDynamics claims the robot also has a fingertip precision of 0.01mm, making it capable of high-precision tasks like threading a needle.
Referring to it as a “superhumanoid robot” on its website, the company said it could “ultimately serve families” with its embodied artificial intelligence.
NeodraDynamics is yet to demonstrate the robot’s claimed capabilities, with a display model at the fair showing off limited limb movements.
China’s latest five-year plan, which was approved in March, placed AI-powered robots at the centre of its national economic strategy.
The superpower already operates more than 2 million industrial robots, according to recent figures from China’s National Bureau of Statistics.
A separate report published last month by the International Federation of Robotics found that China accounts for 59 per cent of of all new deployments of factory robots.
The country is also home to more than half of all humanoid robot manufacturers.
“China's success in modernising its industrial system is based on its national robotics strategy, which was initiated ten years ago,” said Jane Heffner, President of the International Federation of Robotics.
“The recent update, launched as part of China's 15th Five-Year Plan 2026–2030, aims to focus its AI research on physical applications, with robots being the main drivers of economic growth.”
