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AI-controlled robots are no longer futuristic. They are fast becoming part of our everyday life and have become one of main attractions at this year’s autumn technology fairs in Hong Kong.
The HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) and electronicAsia 2025, held from October 13-16 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, have become powerful showcases for intelligent systems that learn, sense and adapt.
The two fairs will collectively feature more than 3,200 exhibitors from 20 countries and regions.
This year’s Electronics Fair is built around the theme “World’s Leading Electronics Marketplace” that showcase cutting-edge solutions in AI, robotics, the silver economy and digital entertainment.
Special zones such as RoboPark and RISE Avenue are dedicated to next-gen robotics and emerging brands, while Adventure Hub features local start-ups developing electric vehicle conversions and other experimental technologies.
In line with a proposal in the Budget, the new Hong Kong Tech Showcase has also been added to this year's exhibition to present high-quality innovation and technology products from local tech companies to global buyers.Amid this wave of innovation, SOTA Robotics (Hong Kong) and Shanghai Hi-Dolphin Robot Technology capture the spirit of this year’s fairs with solutions that bring intelligent technology into everyday life.
SOTA Robotics brings Hong Kong’s first humanoid to life
SOTA Robotics, a spin-off from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, was founded by Professor Chen Fei of the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering.
According to Jacky Fan Kam-wah, the company’s robotics engineer and head of business development in Hong Kong, its mission is to translate Hong Kong’s research strength into human-centred technology.
“Hong Kong has plenty of AI and engineering talent,” Fan said. “Our goal is to turn that knowledge into something tangible – robots that can truly interact with people.”
The company first developed AI-driven recycling and waste-sorting systems, tackling the city’s labour constraints in waste management. Upon recognising the constraints posed by spatial and infrastructural limitations in traditional factory pipelines, SOTA shifted its focus towards humanoid robotics.
Its latest innovation, the CURI2 humanoid robot, is fully designed and assembled in Hong Kong and features 32 degrees of freedom for its dexterity hands, and 57 for its body movement.
Believed to be the city’s first semi-locally developed humanoid robot, CURI2 bridges CUHK’s academic research with local manufacturing expertise.
At the Electronics Fair, SOTA will demonstrate how CURI2’s “embodied intelligence” enables robots to learn from human motion, according to Fan.By adopting advanced multimodal AI models, the robot will be capable of replicating skills previously demonstrated exclusively by human professionals, from musical performances to therapeutic movements.
“We extract linguistic, movement, tactile, and visual senses, refine them to identify core human skills, and transfer those skills to the robot,” Fan explained.
Beginning with performance using musical instruments, SOTA envisions wide-ranging use cases, ranging from interactive entertainment to elderly care and education.
Future collaborations with professional musicians may even see the humanoid perform alongside human experts.
Though still a prototype, CURI2 signals Hong Kong’s ambition to build a local robotics ecosystem grounded in innovation. “We’re showcasing that Hong Kong can design and build sophisticated robots, not just import them,” Fan said.
SOTA’s debut will take place at RoboPark, where over 30 sessions feature humanoids, quadrupeds and service robots demonstrating how robotics is entering daily life.
Hi-Dolphin’s COFE+ debuts 6th-gen coffee robot
While SOTA’s humanoid explores the human side of robotics, Shanghai Hi-Dolphin Robot Technology exemplifies how AI is transforming retail.
The company’s COFE+ 6th-Generation All-Intelligent Coffee Robot, dubbed the “All-Round Champion”, is the world’s first coffee robot to reach a sixth iteration.
“We wanted to create a robot that doesn’t just serve coffee but instead it runs the entire café,” said Nevin Gong-bin, overseas sales director of the company. “It’s fully unmanned, yet every cup meets world-class barista standards.”
COFE+ uses AI-driven precision control to manage grind size, extraction pressure and milk texture.
Each beverage can be customised for sweetness, strength and temperature, or even printed in 3D with a photo, logo or message on the foam. Supporting 197 countries’ signature drinks, the robot delivers what Gong calls “a cup for the world”.
The system is a prime example of sustainable automation. Consuming only one-thirtieth the energy of a traditional café and cutting operating costs by 90 per cent, COFE+ is made from 95 per cent recyclable materials with biodegradable packaging.
The system’s zero-waste brewing and 2.35-square metre footprint make it ideal for airports, malls, hospitals and campuses, according to Gong.
Each unit can brew five cups simultaneously – up to 1,000 cups a day – and operates around the clock.
Gong calls this the “light café” model: a 24-hour café requiring no barista, with investment returns in four to 18 months. Gong said: “This model saves space, labour and energy. It’s efficiency without compromise.”COFE+ has already landed in nearly 60 countries, including Singapore’s National University, Kuala Lumpur and Penang airports, and Indonesian telecom campuses, he named a few.
In Hong Kong, units are operating in shopping malls and hospitals, with more to come in public facilities.
Maintenance is simple, he added, operators just have to refill ingredients. Most technical issues are resolved remotely, often by a quick restart.
Hi-Dolphin also provides on-site installation, training and 24-hour global support, ensuring consistent service even in smaller markets.
“We’re grateful to the HKTDC for providing such an influential international platform,” he said.
“Hong Kong’s global reach and professional exhibition ecosystem allow innovative companies like ours to connect with partners and buyers from around the world.”
Hong Kong as a global stage for AI and robotics
The 45th Electronics Fair and 28th electronicAsia clearly mark Hong Kong’s transformation from trade showcases to platforms for innovation and collaboration.
In addition to SOTA Robotics and Hi-Dolphin, exhibitors such as DEEP Robotics and BrainCo demonstrate how robotics has shifted from research labs to practical, everyday applications.Seminars and forums complement the exhibitions, including the 10th Symposium on Innovation & Technology, themed “Advancing Innovation Through Collaboration: Robotics Across Land, Sea and Sky”.
Speakers from KPMG, S.F. Express, ASMPT, OceanAlpha and Alpha AI will discuss robotics applications in logistics, manufacturing and ocean exploration.
The Hong Kong Electronic Forum as another key attraction focuses on battery technology and energy storage, while an IEEE seminar explores how AI can support construction and smart inspection.
The fairs will again adopt the EXHIBITION+ hybrid model that combines physical and online formats. Exhibitors and buyers can connect through the Click2Match AI-powered platform for virtual meetings and business matching.
The online editions of the Autumn Electronics Fair and electronicAsia will run from October 6-23, giving businesses flexible access to global opportunities both online and offline.
Register now for FREE admission: https://www.hktdc.com/event/aor/en/form/aor-form