A latest report suggests that SoftBank Robotics Holdings Corp’s Pepper Robot received a new feature that reminds you to wear your mask. COVID-19 has set a norm across the entire globe. And that is to wear masks and gloves, in closed public places.
European countries, where the pandemic hit the worse, have set rules where people above 11 years of age are required to wear masks in public places. Moreover, this will at least help slow down the spread of COVID-19.
SoftBank Robotics Europe’s cute robot, Pepper has been providing customer services like offer info at railway stations, sell smartphones and even take your Pizza order. And now in the fight against coronavirus Pepper will scan people’s faces and remind them to wear their masks. Pepper has received several new updates over the course of five years, since its inception. Besides, it continues to receive the latest updates. And this new update from Softbank will lend a helping hand to people fight COVID-19 spread.
Softbank’s Pepper robot will not store or use any personal data of facial scan
Apparently, the Pepper robot will make use of the advanced AI image recognition and Single Shot Detector. Moreover, Pepper is equipped to scan up to five people at once, making the scanning procedure a bit faster. This image scanning technology will then scan the faces of people and detect whether or not they are wearing a mask. If not, then it will remind the people to wear their masks. Pretty simple ain’t it?
Pepper is equipped to scan masks with complex patterns and color schemes. The tablet attached to the Pepper robot will show a green circle around the image of the people wearing a mask. While a red circle will appear around the image of people not wearing the mask and not complying with mask requirements. Another nice touch to this is that Pepper will thank people for wearing a mask. On the other hand, it will also remind those who are not wearing it.
As per a report by Engadget, SoftBank Robotics Europe has clarified that no data will be used or stored. Moreover, Pepper, the robot will provide daily statistics and analytics for instance, what percentage of people are following the rules of mask requirements, etc. Matter of fact, Pepper will also be used for a performance in a spectator-less basketball game in Japan. SoftBank hopes that the addition of such new features will help businesses to come back to their running state.