Android developers get increased access to 'Pepper' the humanoid robot, ahead of US launch!

New Delhi: Pepper, the humanoid robot, created by Aldebaran Robotics and SoftBank Mobile, has already gained fame because of its highly impressive abilities to recognize human emotions.

It is currently being used by 140 SoftBank Mobile stores in Japan to welcome, inform and amuse the customers and has become so popular that it is now, the first robot to be adopted in Japanese homes!

Ahead of its US launch, SoftBank Mobiles, it seems, has gone a step further and announced that the ‘bot is being opened more widely to developers, at this week's Google I/O.

This means that Pepper will be provided Android compatibility, in order for developers to utilize their knowledge of Google’s mobile operating system, through which, they can create applications for the robot courtesy of the Pepper SDK for Android Studio.

According to TechCrunch.com, the company is also launching a Developer Portal for the feel-good robot, compiling all of the relevant documentation, software and forums into a single destination. And SoftBank will be holding some sessions at I/O this week to help ramp developers up for Pepper’s upcoming launch.

Prior to that, however, a Pepper developer model will be launched, which goes up for pre-sale starting next month.

The full US launch is presently scheduled for “later this year,” though Pepper is currently on sale in Japan, and costs JPY 198,000 (approximately $1,800).