Frequently asked questions

Pepper runs one of two versions of its operating system, NAOqi:

• NAOqi 2.5 is based on Python and programmed with Choregraphe. The tablet usually shows a black background with bubbles in the middle.
• NAOqi 2.9 is based on Android and programmed with the QiSDK. The tablet usually shows an Android home screen.

Recent Pepper hardware (version 1.8) can run either. Older hardware (version 1.7 and earlier) can only run NAOqi 2.5; you can recognize it because its tablet has no camera at the top.

RoboHearts Cloud supports both versions, but the installation steps are different for each.

We don't recommend it. Only Pepper 1.8 hardware can run NAOqi 2.9, the change is normally done by a service center rather than by the owner, and the two versions run different applications. With the legacy servers becoming unreliable, the side effects of an upgrade are hard to predict.

We advise against it. Unlike the upgrade, there has never been an official procedure for it: it is technically possible, but when we worked at Aldebaran, it was already discouraged.

Our Guide to Pepper is a good place to start.

Some of the servers Pepper was designed to rely on may be shut down, and we can't say exactly when or which ones (the official communication said October 1 for some). Pepper uses these servers for several features, so some of them may stop working.

Some robots might have already been migrated to not rely on legacy servers (notably, in Japan); we can help with the others.

It depends on the robot and on which features it uses. Possible signs include:

• Errors at startup, or startup taking longer than usual.
• Configuration screens that don't load.
• The setup wizard not completing.
• Speech recognition that stops working, or works less reliably.

These can also have other causes, so none of them alone means the servers are the problem.

A RoboHearts Cloud license gives you:

• An interface for managing your robots: installing utility packages, languages, and more.
• Packages that keep Pepper working when its legacy servers are unreliable or unavailable.

Only if your applications rely on Pepper's cloud speech recognition (also known as "Free Speech"). A RoboHearts ASR license replaces it with Whisper-based speech recognition, without any changes to your applications. If your applications don't use cloud speech recognition, a RoboHearts Cloud license is enough.

If you don't have such an application but would like Pepper to hold conversations, take a look at RoboHearts AI.

A flexible, LLM-driven conversational platform for Pepper. A RoboHearts AI license includes everything in RoboHearts Cloud and ASR. Learn more at robohearts.ai.

Prices are per robot. Each license includes the ones before it. A yearly license costs the same as ten months.

Yes. Each robot starts with a RoboHearts Cloud license, and can be upgraded to ASR or AI at any time.

Yes. One account can hold several robots, each with its own license. Each robot can have a different license, for example RoboHearts ASR on one and RoboHearts Cloud on the others.

• Check that the emergency stop button behind Pepper's neck is not pressed in.
• Make sure Pepper is plugged into its charger.

Pepper not starting without its charger is a common battery issue. If Pepper's battery has not been charged for a long time (around six months), it may no longer hold a charge, and Pepper will then only work while plugged in.

• Try a long boot: hold the chest button for about 10 seconds, until the shoulders light up bright blue.
• If the shoulders blink red or yellow, press the chest button once: Pepper will say the error code and its description. Note it down.

If the error comes from Pepper failing to reach its servers, RoboHearts Cloud is designed to fix it.

If Pepper is supposed to move around and doesn't:

• Check that the charging flap is closed: Pepper can't move while it is open.
• Check that there are no obstacles close to Pepper: it won't move if there are.

It can also be a hardware issue. If the shoulders blink yellow, check Pepper's notifications.

A common cause is cloud speech recognition not working: it may not be enabled on this robot, its servers may be unavailable, or its usage quota may be used up. A RoboHearts ASR license replaces it.

Other possible causes:

• Pepper is not listening at that moment.
• Pepper is listening in a different language than the one being spoken.
• The environment is noisy, or the speaker has a strong accent.

We don't repair Pepper ourselves, but depending on your country we can put you in touch with people who can. Contact us at contact@robohearts.eu.

Before sending Pepper for repair:

• Try a long boot: hold the chest button for about 10 seconds, until the shoulders light up bright blue.
• Check which version of Pepper you have.
• Note any error codes or messages: if the shoulders blink red or yellow, press the chest button once and Pepper will say the error code and its description.