Midea unveiled the MIRO U last week.Midea / Benchmark.pl
A Chinese appliance company has taken a major step into the future of industrial automation by launching a six-armed, wheeled “super humanoid” robot designed to exceed human performance on the factory line.
The robot, called MIRO U, which retains a humanoid head and torso to align with human-height workstations, was unveiled at the Greater Bay Area New Economy Forum on Friday, December 5.
Unlike conventional two-armed humanoid designs that have so far dominated the sector, MIRO U boasts six fully actuated bionic limbs capable of performing three tasks simultaneously.
Developed by China’s massive technology conglomerate, Midea Group, the robot has a stable vertical-lifting system and full 360-degree in-place rotation. It moves on a wheeled chassis, making it easy to reposition during factory tasks.
Where humans fall short
Rather than chasing human mimicry, the humanoid robot was built to prioritize practical efficiency. According to Wei Chang, Midea Group’s Vice President and CTO, the robot breaks from the industry’s push for humanlike forms.
“The core value of MIRO U lies in moving beyond mere form imitation to achieve a leap in operational efficiency within industrial scenarios,” Wei explained. MIRO U handles heavy components with the lower limbs and performs fine assembly and fastening work with the upper limbs.
Thanks to its 360-degree in-place rotation, stable vertical lifting, and rapid tool-swapping, it can handle workstation transitions that would typically require multiple human workers or several separate machines.
At the launch event, Chang referred to the robot as a “super humanoid.” He also noted that it represents not just a technical milestone but a potential engine for major gains in industrial efficiency.
Wei revealed that the transition from testing to pilot use is already underway, as MIRO U is set to roll into the Midea Wuxi High-end Washing Machine Factory by the end of the month.
The company expects the robot to boost changeover efficiency on the production line by around 30 percent once it is fully integrated into operations at the southern Jiangsu province facility.
Redefining factory robotics
The unveiling of MIRO-U also sheds light on Midea’s broader robotics roadmap. The company has now formally split its humanoid development into two distinct tracks, including the MIRO series for industrial applications and the Meila series for commercial and home environments.
Wei stated that the Meila series is being designed for lighter-duty service roles. These smaller bipedal robots are expected to appear in Midea’s retail stores in 2026, where they will guide customers, run product demonstrations, and interact directly with the public.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the company has invested significant resources into robotics in recent years. In 2017, it acquired the German robotics company Kuka.
It also received government approval in 2022 to establish the State Key Laboratory for High-end Heavy-duty Robots and the Blue Orange Laboratory, and went on to establish its Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre in 2024.
Wei said MIRO-U is the first robot in the world to surpass human physical limits while seamlessly integrating into human-designed workstations. It is reportedly the third generation in the firm’s line of humanoid robots.
