Softbank's childlike robot designed with 'heart' goes on sale, global plans in the works

Technology company Softbank's Pepper robot is going on sale in Japan Saturday, equipped with a "heart," designed to not only recognize human emotions but react with simulations of anger, joy and irritation.

The robot, which has no legs but has a hairless head and moving arms, went through a year of software development after being announced.

On Thursday, Softbank Chief Executive Masaoshi Son said the company was preparing for a global sales launch with partners Alibaba Group of China and FoxConn of Taiwan, which will each take a 20 percent stake in Softbank's robotics unit.

Details of when and where it will go on sale outside Japan were not given. It sells for 198,000 yen ($1,600) in Japan.