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精选英语科学技术新闻：日本软银发明似人型机器人

It uses an "emotional engine" and a cloud-based artificial intelligence system that allows it to analyse gestures, expressions and voice tones.

The firm said people could communicate with it "just like they would with friends and family" and it could perform various tasks.

It will go on sale to the public next year for 198,000 yen ($1,930).

"People describe others as being robots because they have no emotions, no heart," Masayoshi Son, chief executive of Softbank, said at a press conference.

"For the first time in human history, we're giving a robot a heart, emotions."

The firm will deploy prototypes of the robot at two of its stores from Friday, allowing customers to interact with them.

Analysts said that development of household robots was likely to pick up, especially in countries like Japan that have an ageing population.

"Even if one can pre-programme such robots them to carry out specific tasks based on certain commands or gestures, it could go long way in helping improve elderly care," said Rhenu Bhuller, senior vice president healthcare at consulting firm Frost & Sullivan.

"And with the technology improving fast - you could see big improvements in managing labour requirement in the the sector."

Softbank developed Pepper in collaboration with French company Aldebaran Robotics, in which it took a majority stake in 2012.