Analysts predict robots may be a tough sell

ASUS is starting to roll out its Zenbo, a $599 robot designed as a companion for children and the elderly. A lot of companies are jumping onboard the robot product train but DigiTimes reports market watchers are skeptic about the market potential of these robots.

In particular, they expect demand will be relatively low as consumers see little need for these products. Furthermore, it's believed that still more time is needed to overcome current technological limitations to make these products more useful.

Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) and Softbank's Pepper, which is used mainly for commercial services, Asustek Computer's Zenbo for the consumer market, Acer's Jibo and SdhouDe's ibotn, which is manufactured by Foxconn, are unlikely to be able to contribute profits in the short term.

The Pepper was launched in June 2015 in Japan and was later released in Taiwan in September 2016. Softbank and Foxconn are now planning to push the robot into Europe and North America targeting the enterprise sector.