Pepper robots reported to make mechanical errors, take unplanned breaks, and fail to recognize previously-met people

[MALFUNCTION]

Jun 28, 2021 · SoftBank Robotics (Pepper) · Pepper · Montreal

Failure Mode

MALFUNCTION

Event Date

Jun 28, 2021

Primary Entity

SoftBank Robotics (Pepper)

Robotic Platform

Pepper

Jurisdiction / Location

Montreal

Audit Standard

Physical State Verified

Incident Abstract & Audit Findings

SoftBank's Pepper robot allegedly kept making mechanical errors, taking unplanned breaks, failing to recognize previously-met people, and breaking down during customer interactions. These reliability issues contributed to weak demand and the eventual halt of production.

System & Fleet Architecture

Operating Manufacturer

SoftBank Robotics (Pepper)View Manufacturer

Hardware Platform

Pepper

Operational Sectors

Physical AI / Robotics

Primary Sources & Evidentiary Filings

  • https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/152/

    https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/152/

Related Incidents & Failure Precedents

6 records on file

Incident Context & FAQ

What happened in Pepper robots reported to make mechanical errors, take unplanned breaks, and fail to recognize previously-met people?

SoftBank's Pepper robot allegedly kept making mechanical errors, taking unplanned breaks, failing to recognize previously-met people, and breaking down during customer interactions. These reliability issues contributed to weak demand and the eventual halt of production.

When did this incident occur?

The incident is recorded as occurring on June 28, 2021 on the DEPLOY registry. The date reflects the underlying real-world event, not the registry record's creation date.

What robot was involved in Pepper robots reported to make mechanical errors, take unplanned breaks, and fail to recognize previously-met people?

Pepper by SoftBank Robotics (Pepper) is the recorded robot involved in this incident at Montreal.

Has anyone responded to Pepper robots reported to make mechanical errors, take unplanned breaks, and fail to recognize previously-met people?

No responses to this incident are recorded on the DEPLOY registry. Operators, manufacturers, or affected parties can submit responses to the editorial team; absence is not a guarantee no response was issued.

What is the current status of Pepper robots reported to make mechanical errors, take unplanned breaks, and fail to recognize previously-met people?

This incident is an active record on the DEPLOY registry; no retraction or correction has been issued.