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AgileX Hunter SE – Research
A compact Ackermann-steering autonomous UGV chassis that brings car-like steering dynamics and 4.8 m/s speed to robotics research labs.
RaaS $239/mo(36mo)
From $7,000 purchase
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Overview
What is the Softbank Pepper Academic Edition?
The SoftBank Pepper Academic Edition is the classroom-ready configuration of the well-known Pepper social humanoid, sold by RobotLAB as a complete teaching and research bundle rather than a bare robot. At roughly 4 feet tall with an expressive head, articulated arms, and a chest-mounted 10.1-inch tablet, Pepper is designed for natural face-to-face interaction: it sees with HD cameras and a 3D depth sensor, hears through a four-microphone array, and senses touch on its head and hands. That makes it one of the more approachable platforms for students and researchers exploring conversational AI, perception, and human-robot interaction.
What sets the Academic Edition apart from a standard Pepper deployment is the package, not the hardware. RobotLAB bundles unlimited Choregraphe software licenses, full SDK/API access for Python, C++, and Java, a 3-year Engage! K12 curriculum license aligned to state and national standards, and a 1-year warranty. Choregraphe's drag-and-drop blocks let beginners program behaviors visually, while the open APIs and ROS interface give advanced users the same tools cited in academic robotics publications. This gives a single platform that scales from a 7-year-old's first coding lesson to a graduate HRI study.
As a reseller, RobotLAB delivers the Academic Edition with white-glove deployment, initial staff training, over-the-air software updates, and ongoing technical support. Institutions can buy outright at $49,900 for full ownership from day one, or move to RobotLAB's Robot-as-a-Service program at $1,047/month to convert the investment into a predictable operating expense. Both paths include the curriculum license and support so a school or lab can get students building with the robot quickly.
Specifications
Key specs
| Brand | SoftBank Robotics (Aldebaran) |
| Type | Wheeled social humanoid robot |
| Height | 120 cm (47.2 in) |
| Footprint (L x W) | 42.5 cm x 48.5 cm (16.7 in x 19 in) |
| Weight | 28 kg (62 lb) |
| Degrees of freedom | 20 motors / 19 DOF (head, arms, hips, knee, base) |
| Mobility | Omnidirectional wheeled base, up to 3 km/h (1.7 mph) |
| Battery | 30 Ah lithium-ion, up to 12 hours operation |
| Charge time | ~4 hours |
| Cameras | Two HD 5 MP cameras (forehead and mouth) plus 3D depth sensor |
| Microphones | Four-microphone array |
| Touch sensors | Three on head, two on hands |
| Navigation sensors | Two sonar, six laser sensors, three bumpers, gyroscopes (torso + base) |
| Display | 10.1-inch chest-mounted tablet |
| Processor | Intel Atom E3845 |
| Operating system | NAOqi OS |
| Programming languages | Python, C++, Java, JavaScript; ROS interface |
| SDK / tools | Choregraphe (unlimited licenses), Pepper SDK for Android Studio |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth |
| Languages supported | English, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Hindi (and others) |
| Bundle includes | Robot, charger, battery, unlimited Choregraphe licenses, full SDK/API access, 3-year Engage! K12 curriculum license, 1-year warranty |
| Purchase Price | $49,900 |
| Robot-as-a-Service | From $1,047/month |
How it works
Softbank Pepper Academic Edition in detail
K-12 STEM and coding classrooms
The Engage! K12 curriculum and unlimited Choregraphe licenses turn Pepper into a turnkey STEM platform for students aged 7 and up. Learners progress from visual block programming to Python, building speech, vision, and movement behaviors on a robot that reacts to them in real time. The standards-aligned activities give teachers structured projects without having to build a robotics course from scratch.
Higher-ed and human-robot interaction research
Pepper is a widely used standardized platform for human-robot interaction studies, conversational AI experiments, and autonomous-systems coursework. Its open APIs, ROS interface, and rich sensor suite let computer-science and engineering programs run reproducible experiments and give graduate and undergraduate students hands-on experience with industry-grade tools. The same robot appears in published HRI research, easing replication of prior work.
Social and emotional learning
Because Pepper recognizes faces, holds eye contact, and speaks multiple languages, it is effective for social-emotional learning and inclusive STEM engagement. Educators use it as a non-judgmental peer that prompts conversation and participation, helping reach students who are reluctant to engage with traditional instruction.
Public-facing demos and outreach
Schools and university departments use Pepper for open houses, recruiting events, and community outreach, where its tablet, gestures, and conversational ability draw a crowd. The same robot that anchors a coding curriculum doubles as a memorable showcase of what the program's students can build.
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How the Softbank Pepper Academic Edition compares
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Softbank Pepper Academic Edition in the field
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Questions & answers
About the Softbank Pepper Academic Edition.
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Is this the same as the standard Pepper robot, or a different model?
It is the same Pepper hardware, configured and bundled as an Academic Edition. The robot's height, sensors, and battery are identical to a standard Pepper; the difference is the package: unlimited Choregraphe licenses, full SDK/API access, a 3-year Engage! K12 curriculum license, and a 1-year warranty. Call 1-87-RobotLAB if you want help choosing between the academic bundle and a service-focused configuration.
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What is included for the $49,900 purchase price?
The price covers one Pepper robot with charger and battery, unlimited Choregraphe software licenses, full SDK/API access for Python, C++, and Java, a 3-year Engage! K12 curriculum license, and a 1-year warranty, plus RobotLAB's white-glove deployment and initial training. For a current itemized quote, call 1-87-RobotLAB.
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Can we lease instead of buying?
Yes. RobotLAB offers Pepper through its Robot-as-a-Service program starting at $1,047/month, which spreads the cost into a predictable operating expense and includes deployment, training, software updates, and technical support. Call 1-87-RobotLAB to compare purchase versus RaaS for your budget cycle.
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What programming languages and tools does Pepper support?
Pepper supports visual programming through Choregraphe plus Python, C++, Java, and JavaScript, and it exposes a ROS interface, so it works for both beginners and advanced research. Development uses Choregraphe and the Pepper SDK for Android Studio on the NAOqi operating system. Call 1-87-RobotLAB for guidance on your team's toolchain.
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Is Pepper mobile, and how long does the battery last?
Pepper moves on an omnidirectional wheeled base at up to 3 km/h (about 1.7 mph) and runs for up to 12 hours on its 30 Ah lithium-ion battery, with roughly a 4-hour recharge. It is meant for indoor, flat-floor environments like classrooms and labs. Call 1-87-RobotLAB to confirm suitability for your space.
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Is Pepper suitable for university research, not just K-12?
Yes. While this Academic Edition is bundled with a K-12 curriculum, Pepper itself is a widely used research platform for human-robot interaction, conversational AI, and autonomous-systems studies, thanks to its open APIs and ROS interface. If your primary need is a research lab configuration, call 1-87-RobotLAB and ask about the research-focused setup.
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What support and training come with it?
RobotLAB provides white-glove deployment, initial staff training, over-the-air software updates, and ongoing technical support, with a 1-year warranty on the hardware. As the reseller and integrator, RobotLAB is your single point of contact for setup and service. Call 1-87-RobotLAB to learn about extended support options.
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