🇭🇰Hanson Robotics·Hong Kong·Pilot deployment

Sophia

汉森机器人

The media-famous social android that put expressive, human-like robotics on the world stage.

Pilot deploymentVerified Last verified 31 Oct 2026
Height167 cm
Degrees of freedom83
Arm payload—
Top speed—
Battery life—
Starting pricePrice on request
First shown2016
StatusPilot deployment
Form factorFull-size
LocomotionWheeled
Updated31 Oct 2026

What it is

Sophia is a female-presenting social humanoid built by Hong Kong-based Hanson Robotics and activated in 2016. Its Frubber skin, camera-rich head and conversational AI support face tracking, expressive gestures and scripted dialogue, while a wheeled base provides mobility. Sophia became a global media phenomenon and in 2017 was the first robot granted citizenship by a country.

Highlights

01Activated in February 2016 and first shown publicly at SXSW that March.
02Granted Saudi Arabian citizenship in 2017, a first for a robot.
03Frubber facial skin supports dozens of expressions; Hanson cites 60+.
04Named a UN Innovation Champion in 2017.
05Marketed as the Sophia Utility platform for events, retail, education and research.

The numbers

Body
Height167 cm
Weight20 kg
Form factorFull-size
Motion & power
LocomotionWheeled
Degrees of freedom83
ActuatorsDynamixel and Xpert servos; servo-driven Frubber face with up to 74 facial degrees of freedom.
Compute, sensing & hands
Compute3 GHz Intel i7 with 32 GB RAM running Ubuntu Linux; Hanson AI cloud services.
SensingChest wide-angle 1080p camera, Intel RealSense, two eye cameras, microphone array, joint and force sensors, fingertip touch sensors, IMU.
HandsArticulated hands with 15 DOF per arm-and-hand chain.

Platform & deployment

AvailabilityPilot deployments / limited availability

Evidence trail

Claims on this profile are linked to primary reporting and manufacturer material where available.

Specifications are sourced from public materials and may change. Always confirm commercial terms with the manufacturer.