Robotics is the new innovation, especially in this technologically driven world we live in. Manufacturing, logistics, military, research, and operations all use it to make our jobs easier. Back in 2012, SoftBank Robotics embarked on a journey to revolutionise the way robots -- as co-bots -- work alongside humans to transform and accelerate several industries, including in cleaning and food and beverage. Robotics can be used to solve a variety of problems. Along with offering consistency, robots can increase efficiency, productivity, and work in hazardous environments, such as the deployment of robots in military situations and where dangerous chemicals are involved.

Softbank Robotics Europe, the group behind two of the more recognizable robots, is laying off 40% of its workforce. On July 7, the developer of the famous Nao and Pepper robots will reduce its Paris-based workforce that had 330 employees as of March 2021. The Robot Report confirmed this news, which was first reported by French media outlet Le Journal du Net. Softbank Robotics Europe lost \$38 million in its fiscal 2019-2020 year and more than \$119 million over the last three years, according to Le Journal du Net. Despite their worldwide fame, the Nao and Pepper robots never achieved financial success.

Pepper - SoftBank Robotics' humanoid robot - will no longer be produced according to a report. Launched back in 2014, Pepper has seen weak demand which is why the company has decided to move past it.

SoftBank Group Corp. has suspended production of its Pepper robot, shelving for now a project Masayoshi Son once personally championed as a symbol of his conglomerate's ambitions in AI and technology. The Japanese company halted assembly of the ¥198,000 ($1,790) robot in August after inventory piled up, but may decide to resume production in future, a SoftBank spokeswoman said. The firm is now in discussions with its French robotics unit, which employs about 330 people, on potential job reductions, she added. According to an earlier report that cited unidentified sources, SoftBank plans to cut roughly 50% of those positions in France by September. Pepper, SoftBank's first foray into robotics, was marketed from 2014 as a home companion and store assistant.

By Sam Nussey2 Min ReadTOKYO (Reuters) – SoftBank's robotics arm said on Monday it will bring a food service robot developed by California-based Bear Robotics to Japan as restaurants grapple with labour shortages and seek to ensure social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.Slideshow ( 3 images)The robot named Servi, which has layers of trays and is equipped with 3D cameras and Lidar sensors for navigation, will launch in January, SoftBank Group Corp said.Servi will cost 99,800 yen ($950) per month excluding tax on a three year plan.The launch leverages SoftBank's long experience in bringing overseas technology to Japan but reflects the shift away from CEO Masayoshi Son's earlier focus on humanoid robots.Servi has been tested by Japanese restaurant operators, including Seven & i Holdings at its Denny's chain, as the sector grapples with an aging workforce and deepening labour shortages.SoftBank's humanoid Pepper robot became the face of the company following its 2014 unveiling but failed to find a global customer base.The firm in 2018 announced cleaning robot Whiz, which employs technology from group portfolio company Brain Corp and has sold more than 10,000 units worldwide.SoftBank is touting the use of Whiz as a coronavirus countermeasure, …

Brady Watkins, is the Senior Vice President and General Manager at SoftBank Robotics America, a company that is becoming a worldwide leader in robotics solutions. What drew you to robotics initially? I came from the video game industry where I was fully steeped in helping to commercialize one-of-a-kind player experiences with cutting-edge development and technology. In that field, I was inspired by seeing firsthand how hardware, software, and talent can deliver joy and a happier day-to-day to end-users through unique experiences. I found direct parallels in robotics, with the added element of packaging both virtual and physical elements into one solution.

Dr. Amy Compton-Phillips is the chief clinical officer and executive vice president for Providence St. Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Tokyo will use robots to attend to coronavirus patients housed in local hotels. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government unveiled two robots on Friday at the Apa Hotel & Resort in the capital's Sumida ward. The Apa Hotel is one of five hotels in Tokyo that the metropolitan government is renting to house hospital patients with no or mild symptoms of COVID-19. Doctors and nurses attend the guests at the hotel, but the government hopes that the Softbank-developed robots will help to cheer up the otherwise isolated guests.

SAN FRANCISCO – SoftBank Group Corp. has put billions of dollars into a laser-based technology that could allow cars to drive themselves and help astronauts land on distant planets. It turns out that same technology makes a pretty good vacuum cleaner. Engineers at SoftBank Robotics have spent years applying lidar, which accurately maps distances in real-time, to carpet cleaning. The result is Whiz, a sort of ultra-high-end Roomba that SoftBank will start selling to companies in the U.S. on Tuesday for $499 a month. Given the high price, offices are the target market. The robot can run for three hours on a charge and clean as much as 15,000 sq.

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