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.

A close-up of the hand of NeodraDynamics' Neo1 humanoid robot (NeodraDynamics)

The Neo1 robot, which was…