Nao robot writing an addition sum. Nao is an autonomous, programmable humanoid robot built by French company Aldebaran Robotics (now SoftBank Robotics). Its development began in 2004 and Nao robots have been used for research purposes, and as interactive and educational assistants for children in hospital and elderly people in care homes. Nao is 58 centimetres tall and weighs 4.3 kilograms. It is able to walk, run and even dance. On board cameras and sensors allow it to respond to visual and audible cues.