Sophia the Robot Makers Hansen Robotics to Mass Produce Thousands of Humanoid Machines On 1/25/21 at 10:04 AM EST The makers of Sophia the robot are set to mass produce thousands of humanoid machines starting this year. Hong-Kong based company Hanson Robotics will roll out four new models in the first half of 2021 after its humanoid robot Sophia went viral in 2016. The launch comes as researchers predict the global coronavirus pandemic will open new opportunities for the robotics industry. "The world of COVID-19 is going to need more and more automation to keep people safe," founder and chief executive David Hanson told Reuters.