Midea’s ‘Super Humanoid’ MIRO U Has Six Arms and Wheels, Challenges 1:1 Human Mimicry

The race to deploy humanoid robots in factories usually centers on a specific philosophy: creating a machine that fits perfectly into a world built for two-legged, two-armed humans. Midea Group, the Chinese appliance giant, is challenging that constraint with its latest release.

At the 2025 Greater Bay Area New Economy Forum on December 5, Midea unveiled the MIRO U, a machine they have dubbed a "super humanoid." The robot marks a striking departure from standard anthropomorphic design. While it features a human-like head and torso, it is mounted on a wheeled-legged chassis and wields six bionic arms, a design choice Midea claims allows it to "break through human physiological limits."

Beyond Morphological Imitation

The MIRO U represents the third generation of Midea’s robotic development, but it is the first to so aggressively decouple "humanoid" from "human-shaped."

Wei Chang, Midea Group VP and CTO, stated during the launch that the core value of the MIRO U is to move beyond morphological imitation. The goal is to achieve a leap in operational efficiency that a standard two-armed worker—biological or mechanical—cannot match.

The design logic is rooted in multi-dimensional collaboration:

• Six-Arm Coordination: The robot can utilize its lower arms to support heavy components while its upper arms perform delicate assembly or fastening tasks.
• Omnidirectional Agility: Unlike humans, who must turn their entire bodies to face a new task, the MIRO U utilizes a wheeled-legged chassis capable of 360-degree in-place rotation and stable vertical lifting.
• Rapid Tooling: The end-effectors are designed for quick-release module switching, allowing the robot to transition between different assembly tools near-instantly.

The "Factory Intern" Starts This Month

Midea is moving quickly from prototype to pilot. The company confirmed that the MIRO U is scheduled to enter the Midea Wuxi High-end Washing Machine Factory by the end of December 2025.

This is not a general-purpose deployment; the robot has a specific KPI. Midea claims the MIRO U will improve the efficiency of production line changeovers and adjustments by 30%. By automating the "beat rate" of the production line with a robot that doesn't need to rest—and effectively does the work of three pairs of hands—Midea hopes to prove the viability of complex automation in variable manufacturing environments.

The Bigger Picture: Miro vs. Meila

The launch of the MIRO U also clarifies Midea's bifurcated robotics strategy. The company has formally split its development into two distinct lineups:

1. The Miro Series (Industrial): Focusing on heavy loads, high precision, and factory environments (e.g., the MIRO U).
2. The Meila Series (Service): Designed for commercial and home scenarios. These robots are reportedly in the final testing phase and are expected to perform tasks like operating coffee machines or navigating retail spaces. Midea plans to introduce the Meila series into its stores for guide services by 2026.

Analysis: Function Over Form

The MIRO U raises an interesting question for the humanoid robotics industry: At what point does a humanoid stop being a humanoid?

By retaining the torso and head, Midea keeps the robot compatible with human-height workstations and visual recognition systems. However, by adding wheels and extra limbs, they acknowledge that the human form is not always the apex of industrial efficiency. The MIRO U is less of a synthetic human and more of a specialized industrial tool that happens to wear a human form factor where it counts.

As the robot begins its "internship" in Wuxi later this month, the industry will be watching to see if six arms are indeed better than two.