Experts have developed a robot with astonishingly lifelike movements, thanks to synthetic muscles beneath translucent skin.
Polish startup Clone Robotics has shared a new clip of Protoclone, its “faceless, anatomically accurate synthetic human”.
The 6-foot prototype machine hangs from the ceiling in the company’s secretive development workshop.
In a video shared online, Protoclone is seen twitching its limbs back and forth with its head bowed, like a puppet brought to life.
Protoclone is described as “the world’s first bipedal, musculoskeletal android”, one with fake bones, joints, tendons and muscles that can walk on two legs.
The firm posted the viral clip to X and it received mixed reactions, with one describing it as “awesome” and another calling it “spooky”.
Some social media users seemed to be disturbed by the faceless droid, with one saying: “Can you just draw a smiley face on the head, please?”
Compared to other robots, Protoclone arguably has a body shape more like a human, complete with realistic movements.
This prototype is said to be “anatomically accurate” with more than 200 degrees of freedom, in other words, 200 possible movements.
It also has 1,000 different artificial muscle fibres or myofibers and 500 sensors, giving the bot insight into its surroundings.
The prototype is powered by pneumatics, but according to the firm, it is planning to switch to a hydraulics system, which uses pistons and fluid.
Protoclone has a 500-watt electric pump circulating water akin to a human heart pumping blood.
Protoclone, the world's first bipedal, musculoskeletal android. pic.twitter.com/oIV1yaMSyE
— Clone (@clonerobotics) February 19, 2025
