Humanoid robots, a product category that often appears in science fiction works but whose practical application is just taking off, have been joined in the competition by several major companies, and according to the latest reports, Sony may be about to become the next one.
Sony Group said Tuesday that it is technically ready to build humanoid robots, but first has to determine what such robots will be used for.
Hiroaki Kitano, Sony’s chief technology officer, said in an interview with Reuters, “In terms of technology, several major companies around the world, including Sony, have accumulated enough technology to make them quickly once it is clear which uses are promising, and the key is the development of applications.”
Tesla, Xiaomi and other companies have launched prototypes of humanoid robots, and the Tesla Optimus Prime robot could start production as early as next year with a target price “likely to be less than $20,000 (currently about RMB 139,000).”
Xiaomi’s first full-size humanoid bionic robot, CyberOne, was first unveiled in August this year, with no mass production schedule announced.
