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Hanson Robotics

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Hanson Robotics is best known for creating Sophia, the world's first robot citizen and UN Innovation Champion.

Founded 2013$22M raised
SOCIAL-ROBOTEXPRESSIVE-AICOMPANION
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Humanoid Robots

View Sophia
Sophia
PROTOTYPE
Sophia
Social humanoid with lifelike facial expressions, conversational AI, and global public recognition.
H:167 cm
W:20 kg
D:83
S:N/A
L:N/A
B:N/A

About Hanson Robotics

Hanson Robotics is a Hong Kong-based robotics company developing lifelike humanoid robots for social interaction, research, healthcare, education, and entertainment. Founded by David Hanson, a former Disney Imagineer, the company combines artificial intelligence, robotics, cognitive science, and character design to create robots capable of expressive communication and natural human interaction. The company is best known for Sophia, one of the world’s most recognizable humanoid robots, along with its proprietary Frubber material, which enables highly realistic facial movement and emotional expression. Hanson Robotics continues to advance socially intelligent robots that combine conversational AI with human-like appearance and behavior.

Technical Profile

Platform maturity, autonomy stack, and flagship-system specifications in one view.

Technology Snapshot

A concise view of platform maturity and deployment footprint.

Flagship PlatformSophia

AI Stack

Capabilities and model layers highlighted by the company.

01NLP
02Computer Vision
03Frubber skin

Sophia Specs

Published operating specifications for the lead system.

Degrees of Freedom83

Latest Updates

Hanson Robotics Team

David Hanson
David HansonCEO

Hanson Robotics History

  1. 2007

    Hanson Robotics is founded around lifelike humanoids

    Hanson Robotics was originally founded in 2007 by David Hanson in Dallas, Texas. Hanson, a former Walt Disney Imagineer with a PhD in interactive arts and engineering, developed Frubber, a flesh-like rubber for lifelike facial expressions.

    David HansonFrubber
  2. 2013 - October 2017

    Hong Kong move and Sophia create global visibility

    In 2013, the company relocated to Hong Kong Science Park. The breakthrough came in 2016 with Sophia, who in October 2017 became the world's first robot citizen (Saudi Arabia) and was named the UN's first Innovation Champion.

    Hong KongSophia
  3. 2020 - 2029

    Hanson raises capital to support social humanoid development

    Hanson Robotics has raised approximately $21.7 million from Disney Accelerator, Haiyin Capital, and the Hong Kong S&T Parks Corporation.

    Disney AcceleratorHaiyin Capital
  4. 2025 - 2026

    Hanson keeps pushing social humanoids into service sectors

    As of 2025-2026, the company continues developing humanoid platforms for healthcare, eldercare, education, and customer service.

    HealthcareEducationCustomer service