NAO V6 is the sixth generation of the small humanoid research and education robot originally built by Aldebaran Robotics and sold under SoftBank Robotics. It is the robot the NAOqi 2.8 platform targets: SoftBank’s own documentation index lists NAOqi 2.8 as the release for NAO V6, while NAOqi 2.1 covers V5 and V4.
The V6 is a compact machine rather than a full-size humanoid. SoftBank’s technical specification gives its dimensions as 574 mm high, 311 mm deep and 275 mm wide. Inside is an Intel Atom E3845 quad-core processor at 1.91 GHz with 4 GB of DDR3, a step up from earlier NAO generations and the reason V6 can run more perception work on board.
Sensing is built for interaction at close range. There are two cameras reaching 2560×1920 at 1 fps or 640×480 at 30 fps, four omnidirectional microphones, two ultrasonic emitters with two receivers, and an inertial unit combining a 3-axis gyrometer rated around 500°/s with a 3-axis accelerometer around 2g. Connectivity is 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi plus a gigabit Ethernet port behind a hatch at the back of the head.
Power is the main practical constraint. The battery is a 62.5 Wh lithium-ion pack rated 21.6 V and 2.9 Ah, with a stated charging duration of 90 minutes. SoftBank notes that NAO can be used while plugged in, but the battery only charges when the robot is powered off and connected to its adapter.
NAO reports problems through a numbered notification system shared across the NAOqi platform. The status LEDs stay white and blink periodically in a colour that carries the severity — green for information, yellow for a warning where the robot stays usable but may be degraded, red for an error where functionality is lost. Each notification carries an ID that customer support will ask for. Those IDs and their messages are reproduced in the error-code table on this robot’s problems and fixes page.
Ownership has moved. Aldebaran’s own web domain now redirects to Maxtronics, following the transfer of the Aldebaran business away from SoftBank; the NAOqi documentation itself remains published at doc.aldebaran.com. NAO V6 is still sold new in Europe — the distributor Generation Robots lists it in stock at €8,350 excluding VAT.
Frequently Asked Questions About SoftBank NAO V6
How tall is the NAO V6 robot?
SoftBank’s technical specification for NAO V6 gives a height of 574 mm, a depth of 311 mm and a width of 275 mm. That makes it a desk-scale humanoid rather than a full-size one, which is why it is used mainly in education and research rather than for physical work.
What processor and software does NAO V6 run?
NAO V6 runs NAOqi 2.8 on an Intel Atom E3845 quad-core processor clocked at 1.91 GHz with 4 GB of DDR3 memory. SoftBank’s documentation index pairs NAOqi 2.8 specifically with NAO V6; NAOqi 2.1 is the release covering the older V5 and V4 models.
How long does the NAO V6 battery take to charge?
SoftBank gives a charging duration of 90 minutes for the 62.5 Wh lithium-ion pack, which is rated at 21.6 V and 2.9 Ah. The robot can be operated while plugged in, but it only charges when it is powered off and connected to its adapter.
How does NAO V6 report errors?
NAO uses numbered notifications with a spoken message and a coloured blink of the status LEDs: green for information, yellow for a warning, red for an error. Each carries an ID to quote to customer support. The full published set of those IDs is listed on the NAO V6 problems and fixes page.
Can you still buy a NAO V6?
Yes. The European distributor Generation Robots lists NAO V6 as in stock at €8,350 excluding VAT (€10,020 including VAT). That is a distributor price rather than a manufacturer list price, and availability elsewhere may differ.