A four-metre-tall humanoid robot that resembles a Transformer has been unveiled, designed to handle tasks too dangerous, dirty, difficult or dull for human workers.
The Chinese company NeodraDynamics Robotics presented its flagship Neo1 heavy-duty hydraulic robot jointly with JD Industrial at the 2026 China International Industry Fair (CIIF). The humanoid robot is aimed at revolutionising heavy industry.
Hybrid Drive System
The company says the machine's hybrid hydraulic-electric drive system overcomes some of the limitations of conventional fully electric humanoid robots, offering greater power, precision and resilience in challenging environments.
The robot is designed to carry out so-called '4D' tasks – dangerous, dirty, difficult and dull – which can pose significant risks or challenges to human workers.
'Robots should not merely replicate human forms but surpass human physical limits to create unprecedented operational capabilities,' said Yang Tao, Founder of NeodraDynamics.
'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.'
Technical Specifications
Most mainstream humanoid robots rely on electric drive systems, which can struggle with heavy loads, impact resistance, and extreme working conditions.
NeodraDynamics argues that these limitations have restricted the use of many humanoid robots to laboratory demonstrations and lighter service applications, rather than demanding industrial work.
The robot has 41 active degrees of freedom across its body. According to the company, 39 of its joints use its own miniature digital hydraulic linear actuators, while two rotational joints in the forearms are electrically driven.
Each actuator weighs 1kg and can generate continuous thrust measured in tonnes, the company says. The robot can support a combined two-arm payload of up to 500kg.
Industrial Applications
NeodraDynamics says the combination allows the machine to handle heavy industrial loads while carrying out delicate, precise operations.
The company says the Neo1 is intended to work in environments where human involvement may be dangerous or impractical.
Potential applications include assembling heavy components and handling cargo in ports, as well as transferring nuclear fuel and maintaining equipment in nuclear facilities.
Its hydraulic modules are also designed to withstand radiation, while the robot's resistance to shock and contamination could make it suitable for mining and disaster rescue operations.
NeodraDynamics says the technology could also be used in deep-sea engineering, where the robot would operate under extremely high water pressure to maintain subsea equipment.
Company Background and Outlook
Founded by technical experts with backgrounds at Tsinghua University, NeodraDynamics says it has developed in-house capabilities covering digital hydraulic components and complete robotic platforms.
The company argues that hybrid hydraulic-electric drive systems could offer an alternative to the industry's current focus on fully electric humanoid designs.
The longer-term challenge will be to demonstrate that the robot can deliver its promised combination of strength, precision, and reliability in real-world industrial operations, and that the technology can be deployed commercially at scale.
