Intro
SoftBank Robotics is a holding company overseeing SoftBank Group’s robotics businesses, focusing on developing, investing in, and growing subsidiaries in the robotics sector. The company is a pioneer and global leader in service robotics, with a strong presence in professional indoor facility mobility robots and humanoid robots.
SoftBank Robotics designs robots that assist people and businesses by addressing labor shortages, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing customer engagement. Their robots are widely deployed across more than 70 countries, with over 40,000 units produced as of 2022.
Key products include humanoid robots like Pepper and NAO, which are used in retail, hospitality, education, and healthcare for natural interaction and engagement. Their autonomous cleaning robot Whiz addresses labor shortages in facility cleaning, having cleaned over 8 million kilometers of floor space globally. The company also offers delivery and autonomous cooking robots for food service and logistics sectors.
SoftBank Robotics operates as a “Robot Integrator,” providing comprehensive consulting, deployment, and maintenance services, supported by a proprietary data platform that optimizes robot operation and business processes. They leverage extensive operational data and a global network to continuously improve their robotic solutions.
Robots
- Pepper: A social humanoid robot capable of recognizing faces, interpreting emotions, and interacting naturally, widely used in customer service and education.
- NAO: A programmable educational humanoid robot used worldwide for STEM education and research.
- Whiz: An autonomous cleaning robot deployed in commercial facilities to improve cleaning quality and efficiency.
- Delivery Robots and Autonomous Cooking Robots: Designed for food service and logistics to address labor shortages and enhance service quality
Specialism
Specializes in humanoid robots for social interaction and customer engagement, autonomous cleaning robots for facility management, and delivery and cooking robots for food service. Their expertise lies in combining robotics, AI, and data analytics to optimize operations and enhance human-robot collaboration.
Business Viability
- Backed by SoftBank Group, a major global technology conglomerate.
- First-mover advantage with a large installed base and extensive operational data.
- Strong global presence with offices in Tokyo, Paris, London, San Francisco, Boston, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Sydney.
- Over 40,000 robots produced and deployed in more than 70 countries.
- Comprehensive service offerings including consulting, deployment, maintenance, and data-driven optimization.
- Active investment in cutting-edge robotics and AI companies worldwide.
- Leadership team with deep experience in telecommunications, AI, and robotics.
- Positioned to lead the growing global service robotics market, expected to double by 2030
