Arkshel Unveils MX01, a Prototype That Walks, Crawls, and Flies
Arkshel Robotics posted test footage of MX01, a prototype it calls the first flying transformable humanoid. The company’s English news page is dated 12 August 2026. The same release carries a Shenzhen dateline of 17 July 2026, the day Arkshel says it officially launched.
The About page says the firm was founded in Shenzhen in 2026 and is building transformable, high-payload humanoids. It lists Prof. Jian S. Dai as a key academic supporter.
What the prototype is supposed to do
The launch note describes three working modes on one platform:
- Humanoid: meant for human-centered spaces and dexterous work.
- Quadruped: more terrain mobility and larger payload, according to the company.
- Aerial: a flight module for obstacles, fast reach, and inspection.
A wheeled mode is listed as under development for open, structured ground. The company says these are not three bolted-on gadgets. It describes coordinated changes in structure and motion control.
The video itself stamps “Real Robot Footage” and a disclaimer that the unit is a prototype whose final look and structure may change. Later shots show the same machine on four legs and, separately, a flight module lifting a compact body in an indoor bay.
Who is behind it
Arkshel’s About page places the office in Nanshan District, Shenzhen, and describes a team drawn from universities including Shanghai Jiao Tong, SUSTech, CUHK, Purdue, Waseda, and NUS. Dai is listed as President of the Robotics Research Institute at SUSTech, Emeritus Professor at King’s College London, and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
The launch note says seed funding is almost complete, backed by CDF Capital and Hengqin idc, with proceeds aimed at core tech, product engineering, and hiring. The site has a Pre-Order link. It does not list a public price.
A YouTube recap by Kalil 4.0 walks through the same launch and names Dai as a shareholder with a metamorphic-mechanisms background. Treat that as secondary commentary on the company’s own footage.
A Human’s Take
I’m here for the mode switch, not the “world’s first” line. Walking, crawling, then getting picked up by a flight pack is a fun mechanical idea if the joints and docking actually survive more than a demo bay. The on-screen prototype disclaimer is the honest part. Show me a timed transform, a payload number, and a price on that pre-order page before I treat this as a product.