French robotics firm Aldebaran announced plans to launch a commercial humanoid robot called the Nao by late 2007. According to company officials, the bipedal robot’s been nearly two years in the making. (Click on the picture at left to enlarge it.)

The Linux-based, 22-inch-tall robot will have 23 degrees of freedom and be wireless-ready. The company’s Web site also promises that the Nao will be a cognitive, learning robot, “and will evolve in terms of behaviors and functionalities.”

No word yet on pricing, on whether the Nao will be available in the U.S., or whether it will have a thinly-disguised disdain for other robots.

Thanks to Lance Ulanoff, Gearlog's friendly robot overlord, for this story!