Pepper (robot)

Pepper
The robot Pepper standing in a retail environment
Pepper
Manufacturer Aldebaran Robotics (now SoftBank Robotics)
Foxconn
Country France
Japan
Year of creation 2014 prototype
Type Humanoid
Purpose Technology demonstrator
Website www.aldebaran.com/en/a-robots/who-is-pepper

Pepper is a semi-humanoid robot manufactured by SoftBank Robotics (formerly Aldebaran Robotics), which is owned by SoftBank, designed with the ability to read emotions. It was introduced in a conference on 5 June 2014, and was showcased in Softbank mobile phone stores in Japan beginning the next day.[1][2] Pepper's ability to detect emotion comes from the ability to analyze expressions and voice tones.

Pepper was launched in the UK in 2016 and there are currently two versions available.

Sales

Pepper was scheduled to be available in February 2015 at a base price of JPY 198,000 ($1,931) at Softbank Mobile stores.[3] Pepper went on sale in June 2015 for 198,000 yen ($1650), with the first batch of 1,000 units selling out in just 60 seconds.[4]

Design

The robot’s head has four microphones, two HD cameras (in the mouth and forehead), and a 3-D depth sensor (behind the eyes). There is a gyroscope in the torso and touch sensors in the head and hands. The mobile base has two sonars, six lasers, three bumper sensors, and a gyroscope.[5]

It is able to run the existing content in the app store designed for Aldebaran's other robot, Nao.

Purpose

Pepper is not a functional robot for domestic use. Instead, Pepper is intended "to make people happy", enhance people's lives, facilitate relationships, have fun with people and connect people with the outside world.[6] Pepper's creators hope that independent developers will create new content and uses for Pepper.[7]

Pepper is currently being used as a receptionist at several offices in the UK and is able to identify visitors with the use of facial recognition, send alerts for meeting organisers and arrange for drinks to be made. Pepper is said to be able to chat to prospective clients.

The robot has also been employed at banks and medical facilities in Japan, using applications created by Seikatsu Kakumei.[8][9][10] and is also employed at all Hamazushi restaurants in Japan.

Academic and scientific usage

Pepper is available as a research and educational robot for schools, colleges and universities to teach programming and conduct research into human-robot interactions.

In August 2018, RobotLAB released an online learning platform for schools that enhance the use of NAO for STEM, Coding and Engineering.[11]

User experience

In September 2015, a visitor frustrated with his customer experience lashed out against Pepper, damaging the unit.[4]

Specifications

Pepper in a Darty shop in France at La Défense, 2016.
Pepper
Dimensions
  • Height: 1.20 metres (4 ft)
  • Depth: 425 millimetres (17 in)
  • Width: 485 millimetres (19 in)
Weight28 kilograms (62 lb)
BatteryLithium-ion battery
Capacity: 30.0Ah/795Wh
Operation time: approx. 12hrs (when used at shop)
Display10.1-inch touch display
HeadMic x 4, RGB camera x 2,3D sensor x 1, Touch sensor x 3
ChestGyro sensor x 1
HandsTouch sensor x 2
LegsSonar sensor x 2, Laser sensor x 6, Bumper sensor x 3, Gyro sensor x 1
Moving partsDegrees of motion
Head (2°), Shoulder (2° L&R), Elbow (2 rotations L&R), Wrist (1° L&R), Hand with 5 fingers (1° L&R), Hip (2°), Knee (1°), Base (3°)
20 Motors
PlatformNAOqi OS
NetworkingWi-Fi: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4GHz/5GHz）
Ethernet x1 (10/100/1000 base T)
Motion speedUp to 3 kilometres per hour (2 mph)
ClimbingUp to 1.5 centimetres (0.6 in)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Byford, Sam (5 June 2014). "SoftBank announces emotional robots to staff its stores and watch your baby – Pepper will go on sale for under $2,000 in February". theverge.com. Vox Media. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  2. ↑ Nagata, Kazuaki (5 June 2014). "SoftBank unveils 'historic' robot – Cloud-linked machine reads emotions, can 'learn,' company says". The Japan Times. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  3. ↑ Dignan, Larry (5 June 2014). "Softbank, Aldebaran launch Pepper, an emotional robot". zdnet.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  4. ↑ "Find out more about Pepper". ald.softbankrobotics.com. SoftBank Robotics. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  5. ↑ "Artificial Intelligence levels up with Domestic Robots". The Skinny. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  6. ↑ "FAQ About Pepper". Aldebaran. Archived from the original on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  7. ↑ https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXLZO15841560X20C17A4L72000/
  8. ↑ https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXLZO89352440V10C15A7L72000/
  9. ↑ http://mainichi.jp/articles/20160907/k00/00m/040/017000c
  10. ↑ "Launch of Engage! K12". Markets Insider. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
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