NAO at IROS 2025
Opening a New Chapter of AI & Social Robotics: NAO Makes a Shining Return at IROS 2025.
In October 2025, at IROS2025, the most influential top international conference in the field of robotics, which brought together more than 7,000 experts, scholars and corporate representatives from around the world, a familiar figure once again became a hot topic.
The NAO humanoid robot that once swept the world made a dazzling appearance after being acquired by Maxvision Technology Corp., announcing its return.
In July 2025, Maxvision Technology Corp. acquired the core assets of the French company Aldebaran. On August 28th 2025, the company Maxtronics, part of Maxvision Technologies, has been created in France to continue NAO development, sales and customer support. This move marked a new chapter for the world’s most influential humanoid robot brand in the East.
At the IROS2025 conference, known as the “Olympics of Robotics,” NAO made a stunning return, ushering in a new phase of development.
IROS2025 is the largest event in history, and the return of NAO to this world-class arena holds special significance. It’s more than just the revival of a product; it represents an important legacy of humanoid robotics research.
As the world’s best-selling humanoid robot, NAO has sold tens of thousands of units in more than 70 countries.
With its friendly interaction, cute appearance, and high programmability, it has become an important driving force in scientific research, education, and medical fields.
It is not only an “old friend” in countless laboratories and universities, but also has trained generations of students, scientists and innovators around the world.
NAO’s strong return is not only a revival of a technological symbol but also marks the official beginning of Maxtronics’ story
Witness the grand event: Technology declaration on the IROS stage
During the conference, we presented the latest features in robotics to researchers, engineers, and educators.
The demonstration showcased NAO’s enhanced expressive movements, adaptive learning capabilities, and natural interaction features, all designed to strengthen its role as a versatile platform for experimentation, teaching, and therapy.
The demonstration confirmed NAO’s enduring importance as a research and educational tool and a symbol of human-centered robotics.
In a field increasingly focused on virtual AI, NAO embodies the physical and emotional dimensions of intelligent technology.
Not just a robot but a standard in Research, Education and Healthcare
Since its creation, NAO has served as a bridge between cutting-edge technology and the real world. As one of the few humanoid robots in the world to achieve mass production, it continues to exert significant influence in three key areas:
- Research and Innovation: More than 400 top universities and laboratories around the world rely on its open architecture to continuously advance cutting-edge exploration in artificial intelligence, robotics, and human-computer interaction.
- Rehabilitation medicine: With its gentle demeanor and predictable behavior, NAO has become a reliable assistant in autism intervention, cognitive rehabilitation, and elderly care.
- STEM education: From primary and secondary schools to universities, NAO inspires the curiosity of generations of students around the world with its approachable spirit, transforming abstract theories into unforgettable practical experiences.
NAO’s return marks not only the rebirth of a classic brand but also the beginning of a renaissance in the field of humanoid robotics. This veteran in the robotics field is embarking on a second journey, continuing to serve as a partner for learning, assistance, and exploration, working hand in hand with global community partners to build an ecosystem and achieve a shared future.
A new evolution of NAO
The next-generation NAO (NAO7) has entered the full development phase, and will create a smoother, more expressive, and adaptable interactive experience through an enhanced hardware platform, an upgraded sensor array, and improved AI algorithms.
This evolution aims to maintain its iconic design and personality while achieving breakthroughs in performance, reliability, and artificial intelligence.
NAO7 not only aims to elevate the iconic robot to new heights but also embodies Maxvision’s long-term vision to support the global robotics community and reshape the future of robotics through Maxtronics.
However, the evolution of technology always adheres to one core principle: technology should always serve people. At Maxtronics, we firmly believe that the future of robots lies not in replacing humans, but in enhancing human capabilities. We are committed to promoting responsible innovation and ensuring that every robot becomes a trusted partner for humans.
Who is Maxvision Technologies
Maxvision is a provider of artificial intelligence, smart port, and intelligent transportation solutions.
Maxvision Technology Corp. is a listed enterprise on the Main Board of Shenzhen Stock Exchange (stock code “002990”), with its headquarters in Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, China.
It is also a national high-tech company technologies, which provides users with intelligent products and “AI+Industry” solutions in line with future trends, and serves the overall construction of a smart society. The company has a team of hundred of people working on hardware and software development and artificial intelligence algorithm research, with R&D staff accounting for over 50% of the company`s total headcount. The software and hardware products formed for sale amount to more than 400 kinds. The company’s annual investment research and development accounts for more than 10% of its operating revenue.
Building on its AI technology accumulation in the port sector, Maxvision has successfully deployed intelligent products and established application cases across various industries, including urban management, industrial parks, property management, logistics, transportation, Internet of Vehicles(IoV), airports, education, and fire safety. The company continues to explore more pathways for AI industrialization.
In the international Detection and Classification of Acoustic Scenes and Events (DCASE) challenge, Maxvision ranked second in China and fourth globally. Moreover, in the authoritative global Ongoing Face Recognition Vendor Test (FRVT), Maxvision`s facial recognition algorithm ranked among the top performers worldwide.
