Technology behind ghostly water-powered humanoid robot revealed

Clone Robotics, a Polish startup founded in 2021, is pioneering lifelike humanoid robots powered by innovative synthetic muscle technology. Unlike traditional rigid, motor-driven robots, Clone’s androids use water-powered fluidic muscles based on the McKibben design—pressurized tubes that contract like human muscles when filled with fluid. This hydraulic system, driven by a compact pump dubbed the “hydraulic heart,” enables natural, versatile movements by mimicking human musculoskeletal structures such as tendons and ligaments. The company began by developing a robotic hand with high degrees of freedom, then expanded to a full-body prototype within a year, leveraging anatomical layouts to simplify design. In February 2025, Clone Robotics unveiled Protoclone V1, a synthetic human prototype featuring over 200 degrees of freedom, 1,000 artificial muscle fibers (Myofibers), and 500 sensors, closely replicating human anatomy. Later that year, they launched their first full-scale humanoid robot and are