Case Study: Aldebaran Robotics achieves humanlike, nonintimidating NAO robots with SOLIDWORKS

Using SOLIDWORKS® solutions to innovate robots that help people.

Aldebaran Robotics set out to take humanoid robotics to a new level by creating technologically advanced, nonintimidating robots that are engaging and safe for people. To meet this challenge the company used SolidWorks solutions—including SolidWorks Premium design, SolidWorks Simulation Premium, SolidWorks Plastics, and SolidWorks Enterprise PDM—to design and manage the NAO robot’s complex exterior, internal packaging, and development data.

SolidWorks tools provided surfacing, interference detection, routing, structural and thermal simulation, and injection-molding analysis so Aldebaran could fit 1,400 parts into a 60 cm-tall robot with smooth, humanlike movement. The SolidWorks-driven workflow resolved overheating and molding issues, automated wiring layouts, reduced prototyping time and cost, and helped produce an open NAO platform now used in research such as autism therapy.

Aldebaran Robotics

Bruno Maisonnier

Founder & Chief Executive Officer