NEURA Robotics Unleashes Next-Gen Humanoids and Cognitive Ecosystem at Automatica 2025

NEURA Robotics Unleashes Next-Gen Humanoids and Cognitive Ecosystem at Automatica 2025

Munich, Germany — NEURA Robotics, the German innovator in cognitive robotics, marked a pivotal moment at Automatica 2025 today with a series of significant announcements, including the world premiere of the third generation of its 4NE-1 humanoid robot. The company also introduced MiPA, a new cognitive household and service robot, and further detailed its ambitious Neuraverse ecosystem, aiming to usher in an era of mass-market cognitive robotics.

David Reger, founder and CEO of NEURA Robotics, framed the unveilings as the dawn of the next technological revolution. "Cognitive robotics is the next technological revolution – and it is happening right here, right now," Reger stated. "Cognitive robots will fundamentally change the way we live and work." He articulated a bold vision: to deliver five million robots by 2030 across industrial, service, and domestic sectors, likening NEURA’s impact to that of the iPhone on smartphones.

The Evolving 4NE-1: Designed for Human Collaboration

The third-generation 4NE-1 (pronounced "For Anyone") is presented as a humanoid robot engineered for autonomous and safe collaboration with humans in real-world environments. A key distinction highlighted by NEURA is its ability to operate without protective cages, relying on cognitive intelligence to perceive its surroundings, make decisions, and learn from experience. The integration of the patented NEURA Omnisensor is touted as a breakthrough in human-robot collaboration, enabling 4NE-1 to reliably distinguish between humans and objects, recognize individuals, and adapt its behavior accordingly.

Technical advancements in the 4NE-1 include a dual-battery system for continuous 24/7 operation, a robust joint technology capable of lifting up to 100 kilograms, and sophisticated, learning-capable hands designed for fine motor tasks. These features position the 4NE-1 for diverse applications, from complex industrial assignments to domestic and service sector duties.

A notable innovation is the robot's "Artificial Skin," a sensor-equipped surface that detects touches even before direct contact, aiming to enhance the precision and safety of human-robot interaction. To facilitate scalable production, NEURA Robotics has developed a new manufacturing method called "NEURA Hive," where multiple robots collaboratively assemble components of the 4NE-1 in a compact, circular arrangement, suggesting a pathway to mass production.

MiPA: Cognitive Assistance for Everyday Life

Alongside the 4NE-1, NEURA Robotics launched MiPA ("My intelligent Personal Assistant"), described as the world's first cognitive household and service robot designed for practical everyday use. MiPA aims to address skilled labor shortages in service industries and make advanced robotic technology accessible for private households.

MiPA is envisioned as an open, interoperable platform, with its cognitive capabilities built upon NEURA's industrial AI architecture and extensible via the Neuraverse. This allows partners to develop diverse applications or "skills," such as vacuuming, emptying dishwashers, tidying rooms, or even health monitoring. NEURA emphasizes hardware openness, with MiPA supporting interoperable IoT components developed with partners in the white goods, health tech, and smart home industries. Deliveries of MiPA are expected to commence in 2025.

Neuraverse: A Shared Learning Ecosystem

Central to NEURA's strategy is the Neuraverse, an open and learning robotics ecosystem designed to connect robots and simplify the development and deployment of robot applications, akin to an "app store" model. In this ecosystem, robots are intended to share learning experiences from real-world use cases, allowing knowledge gained by one robot to be simultaneously learned by others. This aims to create an intelligent network that accelerates innovation, safety, and efficiency. The Neuraverse also allows developers and companies to contribute their own modules and applications, fostering a "democratic innovation engine" for robotics.

To enhance the quality of training data, NEURA Robotics is establishing "NEURA Gyms"—physical training centers where data from real-world application scenarios will be generated. This real-world data, combined with synthetic data from the Neuraverse, is intended to create highly complex, transferable models, ensuring that a trained skill can be applied across all compatible robots.

Strategic Partnerships and Future Outlook

NEURA Robotics, with approximately 600 employees, is actively forging partnerships with global brands. Notable collaborations include Vodafone as a connectivity partner for 5G integration, essential for the high data volumes generated by cognitive robots. With NVIDIA, NEURA is working on the implementation of the "NEURA Gyms" and leveraging NVIDIA Isaac simulation and learning platforms to accelerate the development of robot movements and applications. This collaboration also makes NVIDIA’s GR00T N1 model for advanced cognition available for NEURA robots, utilizing NVIDIA hardware for onboard computing.

A strategic collaboration with SAP and NVIDIA aims to integrate SAP's business AI with NVIDIA's digital twin technology, seeking to realize "physical Business AI." This partnership endeavors to bridge the gap between enterprise data and robotic action, allowing robots to make more informed, dynamic decisions.

Further partnerships with Flexion, Schaeffler Special Machinery, and Schunk underscore NEURA's commitment to building a broad ecosystem around its platform. The company’s presence at Automatica 2025, with live demonstrations of networked robots coordinated via the Neuraverse, showcased its vision of a connected robotic future.

The ambitious goals and rapid development pace of NEURA Robotics position it as a key player to watch in the evolving landscape of cognitive and humanoid robotics. The success of its integrated hardware and software ecosystem, particularly its ability to scale and deliver on the promise of truly versatile, human-collaborative robots, will be a significant indicator for the industry.