A Hong Kong-based robotics company says it plans to mass produce thousands of humanoid robots in 2021. Hanson Robotics says four different humanoid models will start leaving factories during the first half of the year. One of the four is a robot named Sophia, which has received worldwide attention in recent years for looking and speaking in a very human-like way. The company’s founder and CEO, David Hanson, told Reuters the COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand for robots designed to assist and engage with humans. “The world of COVID-19 is going to need more and more automation to keep people safe.” He noted that in the past, many of the company’s robots were built by hand. But now, Hanson Robotics is beginning to expand its manufacturing operations.