In 2016, Hong Kong robotics company Hanson Robotics first unveiled Sofia, a humanoid robot. The robot soon became a sensation on the Internet, as it went viral after the presentation. Hanson Robotics now plans to start mass production of robots by the end of the year. 
The Hong Kong-based company has hinted that plans for four models, including the Sophia, are top-notch. These models will begin production in factories in the first half of 2021. The news comes as researchers predict the pandemic will open up new opportunities for the robotics industry.
“The COVID-19 world will need more and more automation to keep people safe,” said David Hanson, Founder and CEO of Handon Robotics. We've seen robots used in healthcare and delivery, but CEO Hanson believes robotic solutions to combat the pandemic are not limited to healthcare, but can help customers in industries such as retail and airlines.
“The robots Sophia and Hanson are unique in that they are human-like,” he added. "It can be very helpful in times when people are terribly lonely and socially isolated." He announced plans to sell "thousands" of robots in 2021, both large and small, "but did not name the number of speculators our company is targeting.
Social robotics professor Johan Horn, whose research included working with Sophia, said that while the technology is still in a relatively rudimentary state, the pandemic could accelerate the relationship between humans and robots.
Hanson Robotics also plans to launch a robot called Grace this year, designed for the healthcare sector.
Products from other major players in the industry are also helping to fight the pandemic. SoftBank Robotics' Pepper robot has been used to detect people without masks. In China, robotics company CloudMinds helped set up a field hospital with robots during the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak.
Before the pandemic, the use of robots was on the rise. According to a report by the International Federation of Robotics, global sales of robots for professional services have already jumped 32% to $ 11,2 billion between 2018 and 2019.
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( source)
