Pepper

Model: pepper

Aldebaran Robotics' semi-humanoid robot designed to read emotions and interact with people. Introduced by SoftBank in Tokyo in June 2014, Pepper became one of the most recognized social robots in the world — approximately 27,000 units were manufactured before production was paused in June 2021 due to weak demand. The first batch of 1,000 units sold out in 60 seconds in June 2015. Pepper was deployed in SoftBank stores, banks, hospitals, airports, and restaurants across Japan, Europe, and North America. Features a 10.1-inch touch display, emotion recognition via facial expression and voice tone analysis, and a wheeled omnidirectional base. In June 2025, Aldebaran Robotics went into receivership. In July 2025, Shenzhen-based Maxvision Technology Corp. acquired Aldebaran's core assets, including the Pepper and NAO intellectual property.