Pepper and Nao rescued: Maxvision buys insolvent robotics company Aldebaran
The robotics company Aldebaran has been acquired by a Chinese company. The continuation of the Pepper and Nao robots appears to be secured.
(Image: MikeDotta/Shutterstock.com)
The French robotics company Aldebaran Robotics, which went bankrupt in mid-February, has been acquired in part by the Chinese Maxvision Technology Corporation. The important semi-humanoid and humanoid robots Pepper and Nao, built by Aldebaran for research and development, are to be continued. This is possible due to the acquisition of technological assets and intellectual property rights to Pepper and Nao.
Maxivision intends to continue the brand. To this end, a subsidiary is to be founded in France, which will be responsible for local research, development and customer service. The existing employees of the various teams will continue their work. No redundancies are planned. Instead, Maxvision intends to invest in order to gain a foothold in European and North American markets with Aldebaran. To this end, the Chinese robotics company intends to use its existing sales network to bring its own intelligent systems to market more quickly worldwide.
New developments with Aldebaran technology
Maxvision wants to use Aldebaran's knowledge to accelerate the development of intelligent humanoid robots. Aldebaran technologies, such as high-precision motion control and emotional interaction with humans, are to be used in newly developed robots. Maxvision is primarily focusing on the areas of education, cultural and creative applications, healthcare and elderly care, emergency assistance, commercial services and border security.
The robots are to be produced in China. Uninterrupted supply chains, production efficiency and the resulting cost competitiveness would improve Aldebaran's position in global competition, according to Maxvision.
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Aldebaran had run into financial difficulties in recent years and had to file for bankruptcy in mid-February 2025. Universities and research institutions in particular feared that the humanoid robots Pepper and Nao used in research and education would soon no longer be able to be updated on the software side and would degenerate into electronic waste. In addition, sales would then have been discontinued because no company was initially found that wanted to take over Aldebaran. With Maxvision, the continuation of Aldebaran's business now appears to be secured. Neither company initially disclosed the purchase price.
(olb)
