From manufacturing to life services, robots are playing an increasingly important role in China.

In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic   still having complicated developments with many cases of community infection and increasing deaths, industries that do not depend on human interaction, typically robots, are receiving special attention from investors.

PuduTech, a Shenzhen-based service robot manufacturer, said on August 19 that it has received a Series B+ funding round worth nearly 100 million yuan (US$14.5 million) from investors, including Chinese delivery giant Meituan Dianping.

Previously, in July, this startup also received a Series B funding round worth 100 million yuan, also from Meituan.

“Robots are a new type of labor, and this is an area we have always been interested in,” said Guo Shanshan, a Chinese investor.

“The demand for such workers is growing, and we believe that service robots will soon become a must in many industries.”

Rokae, a Beijing-based industrial robot maker, also revealed that it raised 100 million yuan in funding from Xianghe Capital in its Series C1 round.

Unlike PuduTech, which specializes in making robots for serving in restaurants and express delivery services, Rokae produces robotic arms to perform a number of tasks in manufacturing, such as assembling components, applying glue, and cleaning electronic parts.

Rokae's products have been widely used in the fields of automobiles, consumer electronics, medical devices and have been exported to more than 10 countries, including Germany, France, Russia, Japan and Korea.

In May, Fourier Intelligence, a Shanghai-based robotics company, also raised tens of millions of yuan in investment after its Series B+ funding round.

Unlike the above companies, Fourier Intelligence's robots focus on helping patients recover from movement-related injuries.

While land-based robotics are gaining popularity, underwater robotic solutions are also gaining attention.

Sublue, a company developing remotely operated underwater vehicles and autonomous underwater vehicles, raised 120 million yuan ($17 million) from investors including SDIC Unity Capital and V Star Capital, in July.

The company's products are used in ocean research, underwater rescue, underwater pollution testing and explosives detection.

According to the China Institute of Electronics, in August 2019, before the Covid-19 outbreak, the country's industrial robot market would reach 7 billion USD and the service robot market would reach 4 billion USD by 2021.