China’s T800 just got a big upgrade to its feet.
With the state-of-the-art sensing tech, EngineAI’s Terminator-inspired humanoid robot can better maintain balance, quietly sneak up on suspects while on police patrol, and feel exactly how hard it kicks when it’s knocking an opponent’s head off.
EngineAI collaborated with the fellow Shenzhen-based startup PaXini to turn the bottom of the robot’s foot into a touch-sensitive surface. PaXini integrated its so-called multidimensional tactile sensor tech into the T800’s foot soles, to give it a much more humanlike understanding of pressure, balance, foot placement, and the terrain beneath it.
According to PaXini, its PX-FOOTRIX system tracks forces from multiple directions, measures up to 2,000 N of vertical force, and takes readings up to 150 times per second. The data feeds into the robot’s onboard AI, which uses it to optimize its walking gait and foot placement in real time. So instead of only sensing downward pressure, the T800 can now track how forces and twisting torque move across its entire foot.
PaXini says the modular system is designed for long-term use in harsh environments. It’s intended to endure activities like running and jumping. The sensing surface is made from rubber, with IP67/IP68-rated dust and water protection and an operating temperature range from −10°C to 50°C (14°F to 122°F).
PaXini requires custom pricing for its PX-FOOTRIX system. EngineAI sells the T800 starting around $40,000. The robotics firm is manufacturing its full-sized humanoids and its compact PM01 at its factories in Shenzhen and Zhengzhou.
Both PaXini and EngineAI are scaling their humanoid tech with significant financial backing. PaXini has raised at least $515 million to date, including $148 million in fresh funding from August 2026. EngineAI is reportedly seeking a public listing in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) after raising around $200 million in Series B funding earlier in 2026. Both companies are valued around $1.5 billion.