H1 vs NAO V6: Specs, Price & ROS Support Compared (2023)
Unitree Robotics vs Aldebaran (Maxvision) — independent, side-by-side analysis.
Quick Verdict
H1 leads in longer runtime, faster speed, while NAO V6 leads in more DOF, lower price. The two robots are evenly matched, each excelling in different areas.
H1
Unitree Robotics
NAO V6
Aldebaran (Maxvision)
DNA Fingerprint Overlay
H1 NAO V6
Specifications
$90,000Price$16,990
180 cmHeight58 cm
47 kgWeight5.6 kg
20DOF25
—Payload—
2hRuntime1h
3.3 m/sSpeed0.5 m/s
YesStairsNo
YesLiDARNo
Intel i5 + Intel i7; optional NVIDIA Jetson Orin NXComputeIntel Atom (upgraded in V6)
Task Capabilities
◔Pick up a box from shelf?
✕Open a door handle?
✕Pour liquid into cup?
✕Use a power tool?
✕Type on keyboard?
✓Climb stairs with load?
✓Walk on uneven terrain?
✓Run (>3 m/s)?
◔Crouch under obstacle?
◔Navigate in crowd?
✓Recognize & locate objects?
✕Respond to voice commands?
✓Detect humans nearby?
✕Work 8-hour shift?
✕Hot-swap battery?
✕Operate 24/7 (with charging)?
✕Work in rain (IP65+)?
✕Work below 0°C?
✕Work in dusty environment?
◔Work safely alongside humans?
Ecosystem Openness
80
H1
/100
70
NAO V6
Same SDK2 ecosystem as G1. Strong academic adoption.
NAOqi + Choregraphe. Massive academic community. Future uncertain post-bankruptcy.
Pros and cons at a glance
H1
Pros
- Shipping to customers (verified commercial availability)
- Ships with LiDAR for robust depth sensing in low-light environments
Cons
- Short runtime (105 min) — frequent recharging or battery swaps
NAO V6
Pros
- Shipping to customers (verified commercial availability)
- Affordable at $16,990 — accessible to research labs and SMEs
Cons
- Short runtime (75 min) — frequent recharging or battery swaps
- Cannot navigate stairs — restricts deployment environments
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper: H1 or NAO V6?
NAO V6 is cheaper at $16,990 vs $90,000 for H1. Note that lower price does not imply lower total cost of ownership — see the TCO calculator on the Explore page for utilisation-adjusted figures.
Are both H1 and NAO V6 shipping to customers?
Yes. Both are commercially available as of the last review. Delivery timelines and customer geographies vary per vendor — check the manufacturer page for each.
Which is better for ROS-based development: H1 or NAO V6?
H1 has ros2; NAO V6 has ROS 1 only. For research and multi-vendor robotics stacks, native ROS 2 is the strongest signal of ecosystem maturity.
Does H1 or NAO V6 use LiDAR?
H1 ships with LiDAR for depth sensing; NAO V6 does not. LiDAR adds cost and complexity but improves obstacle detection in low-light or low-contrast environments.
Last updated: 2023