Hitachi takes on SoftBank's Pepper with EMIEW3

With all the attention that has been heaped on Pepper, the humanoid robot from SoftBank subsidiary Aldebaran Robotics, it was only a matter of time before a notable competitor showed up. Unsurprisingly, it is another company from Japan that has answered the call. Hitachi’s EMIEW3 robot may not sound as catchy as SoftBank’s Pepper, but its capability more than matches what the latter has shown off.

EMIEW3 is designed primarily to help people find their way around public places, with a possible emphasis on tourists given the robot’s ability to switch quickly between languages. It is also three times faster than Pepper, with a top speed of 3.7mph compared with Pepper’s 1.2mph. This should help it keep up with brisk walkers.

The robot is equipped with other features that could be useful in a variety of situations. It can hear the user even in noisy environments, including the streets. The robot also slows down when it is coming up on a corner or headed toward an object. If it falls over, EMIEW3 is capable of picking itself back up.

Not everything is perfect, though. Engadget reported that EMIEW3’s “biggest drawback is simply that it is not as personable as Pepper.” Its personality is a big part of SoftBank’s robot. It is meant to be an intelligent machine companion that can read emotions. Then again, Hitachi might not be going after the same niche. In China, makers are trying to crack the market for interactive robots, where much of the hype can be found.