FX.co ★ Robot named Pepper

Created by Aldebaran Robotics and Japanese mobile giant SoftBank, Pepper went on sale to the general public in Japan June 20. It is the first humanoid robot designed to live with humans.

At its presentation, the humanoid robot demonstrated to the public its abilities: communicating with the audience, reacting sensitively to what was happening around and did not hide the emotions.

The Japanese company SoftBank established a joint venture with Alibaba Holding from China and Taiwanese company Foxconn in order to develop the business of manufacturing the Pepper robot. Pepper is outfitted with a number of high-resolution 2D and 3D cameras, four-directional microphones and other sensors, including two ultrasound transmitters and receivers, six laser sensors and three obstacle detectors in its legs. All of that allows the humanoid robot, about as tall as an eight-year-old child with a hopeful face right out of Japanese anime, to navigate and interact with its environment and people.

According to a news release, Pepper can pick up on human emotions and create his own using a “endocrine-type multi-layer neural network.” No word on whether it's a learning computer. Pepper's touch sensors and cameras are said to influence its mood, which is displayed on the tablet-sized screen on its chest. Pepper will audibly sigh when unhappy, and can go around your house recording your family's daily activity, if you're in the market for an emotionally-charged security camera.

Pepper was sold at a loss for $1,600USD plus an additional $200USD for monthly insurance and data fees. The monthly fees were compulsory as part of the three-year contract.

During the demonstration, the humanoid android danced, took selfies and amused the audience. The developers note that Pepper is a social robot, it was created to communicate with people, to respond to certain moods, it is not intended for cleaning the premises and other household duties.

If the Pepper is scared, the colors on the screen of its tablet change, at the presentation, the robot got scared when the lights went out. When the robot began to praise, he became joyful and showed positive emotions. When the public began to praise Pepper, it became joyful and showed positive emotions.

Pepper learns from his mistakes and is expected to be in constant communication with the internet so that it can learn, improve and make better decisions with the help of the collective data. Pepper can do much more than simply converse, “he” can play with you using different apps, tell stories, and even contact an emergency number such as 9-1-1 in the event that something happens.

Representatives of SoftBank reported that in autumn of this year it is planned to launch the second model of "Pepper" for business - Pepper for Biz.