Aldebaran Pepper

SoftBank Robotics / Aldebaran (Japan/France) Pepper (1)

SoftBank Robotics / Aldebaran (Japan/France) Pepper (2)

Was ~$1,260 (¥198,000, Japan, 2015) + monthly plan

Discontinued · used/leftover onlyPython from a laptopSemi-humanoidNAOqi PythonIconic

Weeks+Shipping: Weeks (used).

Remote control: The NAOqi Python SDK (Python 2.7 for NAOqi 2.5) connects to the robot over the network. Choregraphe offers a visual editor.

LEARN MORE (Maxtronics (ex-Aldebaran) support) ↗

Overview

The most widely deployed humanoid-looking social robot. An estimated 27,000 were built for SoftBank stores, banks and classrooms, with a real Python SDK shared with NAO. SoftBank paused production in June 2021 amid weak demand. Aldebaran (sold to United Robotics Group in 2022) entered receivership in June 2025, and in July 2025 China's Maxvision bought its assets and formed Maxtronics, which continues NAO but does not list Pepper for sale. Research labs still use it, and refurbished units circulate.

Type: Companion robot · Desk & social robots
Maker: SoftBank Robotics / Aldebaran (Japan/France)
Released: 2014
Price: Was ~$1,260 (¥198,000, Japan, 2015) + monthly plan
Status: Discontinued · used/leftover only
Best for: Professionals & labs
Programming: Full SDK

Price and shipping

Consumer price required a multi-year data/insurance plan. Business and education editions cost more

Shipping: Weeks (used). Refurbished and used units sell through robot resellers and eBay, often several thousand dollars (est.). Check NAOqi version compatibility.

Specifications

Category	Companion robots · Desk & social robots
Released	2014
Country	Japan, France
Availability	Discontinued · used/leftover only
Sales	About 27,000 units manufactured by the time production stopped (2021, estimate) Wikipedia ↗
Programmability	Full SDK
Built-in autonomy	Reactive · Responds to its surroundings without a map, such as avoiding obstacles or following a person
LLM support	Possible via SDK · No built-in LLM. Its SDK lets software on a computer control it.
MuJoCo simulation	None found · Nothing found.
NVIDIA Isaac simulation	None found · Nothing found.
Gazebo simulation	Community model · ROS-NAOqi's pepper_virtual and a ROS 2 Gazebo Sim digital twin, neither clearly from SoftBank. pepper_virtual ↗
Best for	Professionals & labs
Vision sensors	Camera, Depth camera, Lidar, Sonar / ultrasonic
Actuators	Unknown
Audio	Speaker, Microphone
Compute type	x86 PC (Intel / AMD)
Remote control	Python from a laptop
Size	120 cm tall, ~28 kg
Drive	Three omni-wheels
Compute	Intel Atom (NAOqi OS, Android tablet on later versions)
Vision	2 × 2D cameras + 3D depth sensor
Lidar	Laser line sensors + sonars in the base
Sensors	Touch sensors on head and hands, 4 mics, bumpers, 10.1" chest tablet
Runtime	~12 h (claimed)
Speed	~3 km/h (capped)
SDK	NAOqi SDK (Python, C++), Choregraphe, later Android SDK (NAOqi 2.9)

Common questions

How much does Pepper cost?

It sold for ~$1,260 (¥198,000, Japan, 2015) + monthly plan. Consumer price required a multi-year data/insurance plan. Business and education editions cost more.

Can Pepper be bought today?

It is discontinued, though used or leftover units still turn up. Refurbished and used units sell through robot resellers and eBay, often several thousand dollars (est.). Check NAOqi version compatibility.