The maker of China’s military Robowolf quadrupeds is now unleashing its humanoid robots into industry after securing what it calls a landmark deployment contract.
Hangzhou-based 58 Intelligent Technology (五八智能科技), also known as WuBa Intelligent Tech, has reportedly secured a $5.5 million order for its full-sized humanoid robot, the Da Sheng D12. The entity that’s buying the robots hasn’t been disclosed, but Chinese state media calls it one of the republic’s largest industrial humanoid contracts to date.
The state-backed robotics firm is accelerating the production of its AI-powered quadruped and humanoid robots after recently securing around $69 million in funding. Backed by China Ordnance Equipment Group (NORINCO), a state-owned defense conglomerate, Wuba was launched in February 2022 with around $42 million dollars in registered capital. It’s led by founder Cheng Peng, a Zhejiang University trained engineer who previously worked in defense and aerospace research.
The company has maintained a relatively low profile even as its robotic dogs have become synonymous with the People’s Liberation Army’s robot arsenal. Its Robowolf quadrupeds were showcased during the China’s 2025 Victory Day military parade. The robotic dogs first appeared publicly in November 2024 during Airshow China 2024 in Zhihua. The company’s Q20A quadrupedal platform served as the foundation for the military-grade machine.
Public reports indicate that 58 Intelligent began developing its Da Sheng D12 humanoid in 2023 as the Chinese government made it national policy to mass produce humanoids by 2025 and to own the market by 2027. The People’s Republic is well past its initial goal of manufacturing 10,000 humanoids by year’s end, with some reports suggesting that more than 30,000 have been shipped.
Standing 1.7 meters (5 feet 7 inches), the D12 humanoid weighs around 55 kg (121 lbs) and boasts a reported 42 degrees of freedom (DoF). Detailed specs have not been publicized but the company says it’s powered by its custom high-power actuators and reinforcement learning motion control.
Its name translates to Great Sage Equal to Heaven, the title belonging to Sun Wukong, the Monkey King from the classic Chinese tale, Journey to the West. The Great Sage, conceived during 16th Century Ming Dynasty, is one of the most iconic figures in Chinese mythology. It got renewed international attention in 2024 from the blockbuster video game Black Myth Wukong, developed by the Hangzhou company Game Science.
Early field tests placed D12 units on a Sichuan Changhong Electronics assembly line, where they reportedly took on jobs formerly handled by human interns like barcode scanning, labeling, and material handling. Other demos have shown the robot directing traffic, responding to mock fire emergencies, and navigating cluttered environments.
58 Intelligent is also accelerating the production of its next-gen quadruped, the Skywolf. A marketing video shows the robodog sprinting over 15 km/h (9 mph), climbing rough terrain, and showing off acrobatic capabilities. The Skywolf is built for broader industry and enterprise use cases. The company’s quadrupeds are modular platforms that can be outfitted with custom sensors and lethal and non-lethal payloads.
According to Chinese reports, 58 Intelligent and its partners have arranged capacity for up to 20,000 units per year and have completed more than $14 million worth of deliveries across safety and industrial segments.