Aldebaran Robotics NAO — Specs, Price & Where to Buy (2026)

The NAO V6 educational edition starts around $9,000, while the full research edition with advanced software can reach $16,000. Used V4/V5 models typically sell for $4,000–$8,000 depending on condition.

NAO can walk, talk, recognize faces and speech, dance, and interact with objects. It supports 20 languages, has stereo vision, tactile sensors, and is programmable for custom research tasks like autism therapy, SLAM, and cognitive AI.

Yes, NAO is commercially available worldwide via SoftBank Robotics and authorized resellers. Some education bundles include curriculum and support. Lead times vary from 2 to 6 weeks.

Pepper is larger (120 cm vs 58 cm), rolls on wheels, and targets enterprise settings at $20,000. NAO is bipedal, cheaper, and dominates university research and education.

Height 58 cm, weight 5.4 kg, 25 DOF, 1.5‑hour battery, 0.36 km/h max speed, 0.5 kg payload, Intel Atom CPU, 4 GB RAM, stereo HD cameras, and 4 microphones.

NAO was created by Aldebaran Robotics, founded in Paris, France in 2005. Since 2015, it is produced by SoftBank Robotics Europe, a subsidiary of SoftBank Group.

NAO’s lithium‑ion battery lasts about 1.5 hours of active movement, with a 2‑hour recharge. Batteries are swappable but require tools.

Primarily education (from K‑12 to university), research (universities, labs), and healthcare (autism therapy, elder care). It is also used in entertainment and public speaking.

Yes, the NAOqi SDK provides Python and C++ APIs. Beginners often start with the graphical Choregraphe tool, then advance to Python scripting.

Used NAOs from well‑maintained labs are reliable but batteries and actuators may be worn. Always test all degrees of freedom and request battery cycle counts before purchase.