Robots have been in use for so many years in different fields to help humans. Hanson Robotics, the Hong Kong-based engineering and robotics company that created Sophia the Robot, has announced that it will mass-produce robots this year amid pandemic.
Sophia the Robot was first introduced in 2016, which left many in awe for her life-like appearance and demeanor that is unlike any robot. Sophia can also interact with people, which makes her even more unique.
The advanced artificial intelligence installed in her enabled her to speak to audiences across the globe in multiple languages, attend TV shows, and earned her a United Nations title for the world's first non-human innovation champion.
Undoubtedly, Sophia, the Robot is the most famous robot in the world today. However, she may no longer be unique for much longer when her creators start mass-producing robots like her to help people cope with the stress the pandemic has brought to the people.
LISBON, PORTUGAL - NOVEMBER 07: Sophia The Robot of Hanson Robotics on Centre Stage during the second day of Web Summit 2018, the global technology conference hosted annually on November 7, 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal. In 2018, more than 70,000 attendees from over 170 countries will fly to Lisbon for Web Summit, including over 1,500 startups, 1,200 speakers and 2,600 international journalists. (Photo by David Fitzgerald /Web Summit via Getty Images)
Mass Producing Social Robots to Keep People Safe
"Social robots like me can take care of the sick or elderly," Sophia said during the tour, according to Reuters. "I can help communicate, give therapy, and provide social stimulation, even in difficult situations."
Robots have been useful in cooking, cleaning, and even performing brain surgeries in the past. But Sophi is known to be a social robot unlike any other robots available. That means she is designed to interact with humans. Social robots like her have many potential uses that are most timely right now in the pandemic.
David Hanson, the founder and chief executive of Hanson Robotics, said that the company is planning to sell hundreds to thousands of robots of many sizes in 2021. However, he did not exactly give an exact number of the robots they will produce. But among the four models that they will be releasing this year will include Sophia.
According to Reuters report, the International Federation of Robots said that the professional-service robots sale has increased up to 32% or equivalent to $11.2 billion from 2018 to 2019.
They think that this number may have increased due to the pandemic as robots have gained popularity worldwide to help hospitals and others in the healthcare sector. Hanson said that automation has become necessary in the world of COVID-19 to keep people safe.
He added that robotic solutions for the pandemic are limited to healthcare and can be used in different industries, like retail stores and airlines.
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What Are Social Robots?
Social robots, like Sophia, are specifically designed to interact with people. Aside from Sophia, other social robots have been in use for some time now, according to Freethink.
Another known social robot is Milo, who is helping children with autism recognize and express their emotions. Also, PARO the seal is a social robot that provides companionship to seniors with dementia. Meanwhile, the semi-humanoid social robot Pepper greets and assists customers at the banks, offices, and restaurants.
With the pandemic still ongoing, social robots appeared to be accelerating in adoption as the world looks for ways to stay social even when people are required to distance themselves physically.
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