Star Dynamics China Debuts Its First Humanoid Robot

On November 4th, a new humanoid robot was unveiled by a company founded recently through a partnership between Hongrun Construction Group and Matrix Super Intelligence, established by Zhang Haixing, the former head of Tesla’s China design center. This marks the company’s debut with its first android model.

The robot, known as the No. 1, exhibits a very realistic appearance, surpassing many other Chinese humanoid robots in likeness. Unlike most, it features no visible wires or joints, and at an event celebrating its official opening in the Qianwan New Area of Ningbo, observers noted that its exterior coating resembles Tesla’s Optimus Version 2.5 in a gold finish.

The joint venture was officially formed on September 19th, with an ownership stake split—Hongrun Construction Holding 60% and the remaining share held by Matrix Super Intelligence. A few weeks prior, the two parties agreed to collaborate on research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of humanoid robots, according to a corporate registry.

“We are referencing full-sized humanoid robots from North America, including models such as Figure, Optimus, and products from 1X Technologies,” Zhang explained. While companies like Figure and 1X are testing their robots in domestic settings, Zhang described these efforts as more of a concept phase, noting that current robot technology and supply chain stability still require further development before widespread household usage becomes feasible.

He emphasized that an intelligent robot should be capable of engaging in natural language conversations effortlessly, rather than needing complex commands.

“Our proprietary architecture has reduced the core control code from hundreds of thousands of lines to less than 3,000,” Zhang said. Fewer lines of code mean fewer errors, enhancing system stability and reliability. He stressed that this streamlined coding approach is essential for large-scale production.

According to Zhang, the company’s success in the upcoming wave of humanoid robot competition will hinge on how well it leverages technological and manufacturing opportunities before the supply chain reaches full maturity.

“Mass production requires hardware that is easy to produce, maintain, and optimize for different environments,” he explained. The ability to execute systematic engineering and to collaborate rapidly across industries will be crucial factors in the competitive landscape among robot manufacturers,” he added.

Meanwhile, the US-based tech giant behind the Optimus project has yet to achieve mass production at scale. Reports indicate they have scaled back their annual output target from 5,000 to just 2,000 units due to significant technical challenges with the design of the robot’s hands and forearms. The company has not issued any official statements on these issues.