Pepper
Pepper is a humanoid social robot engineered for human interaction, featuring expressive facial animations via LED eyes and gestures powered by 20 DC motors. Standing at 120 cm with omnidirectional wheeled mobility reaching 3 km/h, it navigates indoor spaces using laser scanners, sonars, and cameras for obstacle avoidance and people detection. Equipped with dual 5MP HD cameras, a 3D depth sensor, four microphones, and touch sensors, Pepper recognizes faces, emotions, and voices in over 20 languages. Its chest-mounted 10.1-inch tablet enables touch interactions, while NAOqi OS supports Python, C++, Java, and Choregraphe for custom behaviors. Ideal for retail, education, healthcare, and hospitality, Pepper engages users through speech synthesis, dialogue engines, and emotional responses, fostering natural collaboration without true bipedal walking but mimicking humanoid proportions for approachability.
Quick Overview & Key Facts
Pepper is a humanoid system developed by SoftBank Robotics in Japan and launched in 2014. Starting price is estimated at USD 20,000 – 30,000. It is currently ranked #70 in most-viewed humanoid robots on Origin of Bots. It supports People interaction, light tools. Operating battery runtime is rated at 12 hours. Primary applications include Customer service, reception, education, elder care, events. Featured in editorial articles including “Top 7 Humanoid Robots Transforming Healthcare, Hospitals & Eldercare in 2026”, “10 Best Humanoid Robots for Education & Research Labs ”.
What Can Pepper Do?
Core operational tasks and activities demonstrated or performed by Pepper.
Real-World Applications of Pepper
Industries, working environments, and deployment suitability for Pepper.
Pepper Capabilities
Inherent physical, perceptual, and cognitive abilities built into Pepper.
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Robot Specifications
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Latest News About Pepper
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SoftBank Unveils Pepper+ AI Robot February 2026
SoftBank Robotics revealed Pepper+ on February 2, 2026, transforming the iconic humanoid into an AI-driven companion ready for modern demands. This upgrade builds on Pepper's Guinness World Record as the first mass-produced humanoid from 2014, now infusing advanced AI agents for seamless human engagement. Deployments target tourism hotspots and nursing facilities, where Pepper+ demonstrates sharper conversational flow and contextual awareness. Rental plans start at 79,800 yen monthly for annual use, signaling aggressive market reentry amid humanoid robotics resurgence.
Pepper Also Mentioned in Below Articles
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Top 7 Humanoid Robots Transforming Healthcare, Hospitals & Eldercare in 2026
10 Best Humanoid Robots for Education & Research Labs
Best AI-Powered Humanoid Robots for Hotels & Restaurants (2026)
7 Most Realistic AI Conversations in Humanoid Robots (2026)
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Q1. What is Pepper, and what problem is it designed to solve?
Pepper is a wheeled humanoid robot developed by SoftBank Robotics. According to the manufacturer, it is designed for social interaction with humans in public settings, using sensors for people perception and multimodal communication.
Q2. What are the main capabilities and key features of Pepper?
Pepper features voice recognition, facial detection, object recognition, and autonomous navigation on flat surfaces. It includes a chest-mounted tablet for information display and supports multiple programming languages via its software development kit.
Q3. Who is Pepper built for, and which industries can benefit from it?
Pepper targets businesses, researchers, and educational institutions. According to SoftBank Robotics, it serves sectors such as retail, hospitality, healthcare, and education for customer engagement and interactive demonstrations.
Q4. Is Pepper a commercial product or still a research prototype?
Pepper is a commercial product available since 2014. It functions as an open platform supporting research and development through its SDK, while deployed in commercial applications.
Q5. Is Pepper currently available for purchase, and when is it expected to ship?
As of 2026, Pepper is available for purchase through authorized distributors. Shipping timelines depend on order fulfillment by distributors following purchase.
Q6. How does Pepper actually work in real-world environments?
Pepper uses cameras, microphones, lasers, sonars, and bumpers for environment perception and obstacle avoidance. It navigates indoor flat spaces autonomously and engages users via speech and touch interactions.
Q7. When was Pepper announced or officially launched?
Pepper was unveiled by SoftBank Robotics in 2014. Commercial availability began shortly after its public demonstration that year.
Q8. How is Pepper different from other robots in the same category?
Unlike bipedal humanoids, Pepper employs three omnidirectional wheels for indoor mobility on flat surfaces. It emphasizes emotional recognition and tablet-based interfaces for social tasks, distinguishing it from legged research platforms.
Q9. Does Pepper require additional development or customization after purchase?
Customization is possible using the provided SDK, which supports languages like Python and C++. According to the manufacturer, users often develop applications for specific behaviors post-purchase.
Q10. What is the future roadmap or planned upgrades for Pepper?
SoftBank Robotics has announced plans to expand Pepper's software engines and integration capabilities. The company targets enhanced autonomy and broader language support for ongoing deployments.
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