Pepper, SoftBank Robotics' humanoid robot, on display in Tokyo

© Christopher Jue/EPA/Shutterstoc

National Robotics Week. Make way for robots

Happy Robotics Week! Every April, people across the country come together to educate and inspire students about the importance of robotics, which can now be found just about everywhere, contributing to almost every industry. Many people now have robots in their homes to help with simple housekeeping tasks, but robots are also capable of incredibly complex and delicate work. For example, robotic surgery allows doctors to make more precise movements than possible by a human hand. Reconnaissance robots are used by police to gather intel in situations that are too dangerous for humans. And robots are experts at rote tasks that we humans find boring, like repetitive assembly work.The robot we’re featuring today, Pepper, is designed to work directly with customers, kind of like a receptionist. She's considered a humanoid robot because her body shape resembles that of a human body. She communicates through words, eyes, and body language.