While humanoid robots are already being tested in controlled environments, the question remains: when can we rely on these advanced machines to take care of our household tasks? A groundbreaking new video from Germany’s Neura Robotics showcases the relentless march towards making this futuristic vision a tangible reality.
Founded in 2019 near Stuttgart, Germany, Neura Robotics has successfully introduced industrial robotic arms and manipulators, as well as a mobile cell platform and a versatile assistant.
The company has been investing significant time and resources into developing a humanoid robot, named 4NE-1, over the past couple of years. A promotional video showcasing the bot’s capabilities has recently been released, aiming to accelerate its development through partnership with Neura.
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Footage showcases a humanoid assistant tackling a range of mundane household tasks, including ironing, meal preparation, and tidying up cluttered surfaces, while also keeping children entertained. As the bot’s cheerful persona shines through, it busies itself with machinery and heavy-duty equipment in a well-lit workspace, optimizing its capabilities before welcoming fellow Neura team members.
Although the video’s focus on simulating a training environment leaves unclear whether teleoperation was an intended consideration, it does highlight the importance of coaching the system. According to reports, the 4NE-1 measures 1.8 meters (or 5.9 feet) in height and tips the scales at approximately 80 kilograms (176 pounds). The robot features 3D sensors integrated into its torso, allowing for 360-degree visual perception capabilities, and can traverse distances of up to 3 kilometers per hour, equivalent to approximately 1.8 miles per hour.
The top module can also function as a standalone show, equipped with voice recognition capabilities that are fine-tuned through reinforcement learning, allowing the robotic system to efficiently assume responsibilities. The robot is capable of operating independently or being controlled remotely, boasting a payload capacity of up to 15 kilograms (33 pounds), enabling it to lift and transport objects with ease.
Equipped with human-like palms attached to jointed arms, individuals can manipulate these objects with ease; additionally, interchangeable forearms allow for customized configurations catering to specific tasks. Onboard sensors provide real-time force-torque data for every articulating joint, facilitating smooth, safe, and precise motion. The corporation proudly claims to have created a specific AI-powered sensor capable of detecting individuals and other moving entities, even when its line of sight is impeded.
Neura Robotics
The Neura robots will significantly benefit from early participation in NVIDIA’s Humanoid Robotic Developer Program, which integrates inference microservices to help developers create physical machines that can tackle complex tasks with greater ease, and cloud-based OSMO orchestration and scaling capabilities to run multi-step workloads efficiently, as well as AI-driven simulation teleoperation training workflows for enhanced robotic performance.
“As we integrate Neura’s innovative cognitive robotics capabilities with NVIDIA’s cutting-edge computing power and simulation tools, we’re poised to accelerate the development of humanoid robotics at an unprecedented pace,” said Neura’s founder, David Reger.
NVIDIA also provides AI supercomputing infrastructure that enables the training of complex models, as well as a platform where robots can learn and refine their skills in simulated environments. The company’s Jetson series, including the Tor humanoid robot, is designed to operate these models efficiently. Starting in September, Neura’s companions and clients will gain access to NVIDIA’s flagship model. The development timeline for the 4NE-1 humanoid robot has not yet been publicly disclosed.
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