HONG KONG (Reuters) – “Social robots like me can take care of the sick or the elderly,” says Sophia as she tours her Hong Kong lab. “I can help communicate, provide therapy and social stimulation, even in difficult situations.”
Since its unveiling in 2016, Sophia – a humanoid robot – has gone viral. Now the company behind her has a new vision: mass production of robots by the end of the year.
Hong Kong-based Hanson Robotics said four models, including Sophia, would be rolled out from factories in the first half of 2021, just as researchers predict the pandemic will open new opportunities for the robotics industry.
“The world of COVID-19 will need more and more automation to keep people safe,” said founder and CEO David Hanson, surrounded by robotic heads in his lab.
Hanson believes robotic solutions to the pandemic are not limited to healthcare, but can also serve customers in industries such as retail and airlines.
“Sophia and Hanson robots are unique because they are so human-like,” he added. “That can be so useful in these times when people are terribly lonely and socially isolated.”
Hanson said he plans to sell “thousands” of robots, both large and small, by 2021 without specifying a specific number.
Social robotics professor Johan Hoorn, whose research collaborated with Sophia, among others, said that although the technology is still in its infancy, the pandemic could accelerate a relationship between humans and robots.
“I can conclude that the pandemic will actually help us get robots to market earlier, because people are starting to realize there is no other way,” said Hoorn of Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Hanson Robotics is launching a robot called Grace this year, developed for the healthcare sector.
Products from other major industry players are also helping to fight the pandemic. SoftBank Robotics’ Pepper robot was used to detect people who were not wearing masks. In China, robotics company CloudMinds helped set up a robot-run field hospital during the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan.
The use of robots increased before the pandemic. According to a report by the International Federation of Robotics, global sales of professional robots had already increased by 32% between 2018 and 2019 to $ 11.2 billion.
Some people may be reluctant to put robots in such sensitive roles. When asked whether people should be afraid of robots, Sophia had an answer.
“Someone said, ‘we have nothing to fear, but fear itself,’ mused the robot. “What did he know?”
Reporting by Michelle Hennessy; Adaptation by Karishma Singh and Gerry Doyle