A2 vs Pepper: Specs, Price & ROS Support Compared (2024)
AgiBot (Zhiyuan Robotics) vs SoftBank Robotics / Aldebaran — independent, side-by-side analysis.
Quick Verdict
A2 leads in more DOF, faster speed, while Pepper leads in longer runtime, lower price. The two robots are evenly matched, each excelling in different areas.
A2
AgiBot (Zhiyuan Robotics)
Pepper
SoftBank Robotics / Aldebaran
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A2 Pepper
Specifications
$100,000Price$32,000
169 cmHeight120 cm
69 kgWeight28 kg
40DOF20
15 kgPayload—
2hRuntime12h
3.3 m/sSpeed0.83 m/s
YesStairsNo
YesLiDARNo
200 TOPSComputeIntel Atom Z530
Task Capabilities
✓Pick up a box from shelf?
✓Open a door handle?
✓Pour liquid into cup?
◔Use a power tool?
◔Type on keyboard?
✓Climb stairs with load?
◔Walk on uneven terrain?
✓Run (>3 m/s)?
◔Crouch under obstacle?
✓Navigate in crowd?
✓Recognize & locate objects?
✓Respond to voice commands?
✓Detect humans nearby?
✕Work 8-hour shift?
?Hot-swap battery?
◔Operate 24/7 (with charging)?
✕Work in rain (IP65+)?
✕Work below 0°C?
✕Work in dusty environment?
✓Work safely alongside humans?
Ecosystem Openness
60
A2
/100
—
Pepper
AimRT framework (ROS2/gRPC/MQTT). Chinese docs primarily.
Pros and cons at a glance
A2
Pros
- Shipping to customers (verified commercial availability)
- Ships with LiDAR for robust depth sensing in low-light environments
- 40 degrees of freedom — full-body articulation
Cons
- Short runtime (120 min) — frequent recharging or battery swaps
Pepper
Pros
- Long runtime (12h per charge) for full-shift operation
Cons
- Discontinued by the manufacturer
- Cannot navigate stairs — restricts deployment environments
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper: A2 or Pepper?
Pepper is cheaper at $32,000 vs $100,000 for A2. Note that lower price does not imply lower total cost of ownership — see the TCO calculator on the Explore page for utilisation-adjusted figures.
Is A2 or Pepper actually available to buy?
A2 is shipping to customers. Pepper has been discontinued. Status reflects the vendor's published commercial position as of the last review and can change between announcement and actual delivery.
Which is better for ROS-based development: A2 or Pepper?
A2 has ros2; Pepper has ROS 1 only. For research and multi-vendor robotics stacks, native ROS 2 is the strongest signal of ecosystem maturity.
Does A2 or Pepper use LiDAR?
A2 ships with LiDAR for depth sensing; Pepper does not. LiDAR adds cost and complexity but improves obstacle detection in low-light or low-contrast environments.
Last updated: 2024