Germany to unleash ‘world’s best’ humanoid robot to challenge China’s dominance

Neura’s robotic rival

Last year, Neura Robotics unveiled details about its third-generation humanoid robot, the 4NE-1, set to launch this June.

Standing 5.9 feet (1.8 meters) tall and weighing 176 pounds (80 kg), the robot can carry loads of up to 33 pounds (15 kg). Built to handle a variety of daily and industrial tasks, the 4NE-1 operates on Neura’s Neuraverse platform with a top speed of 1.8 mph (3 km/h). Its standout feature is its exchangeable forearms, which can be customized for different tasks.

The 4NE-1 was developed quickly, leveraging Nvidia’s range of AI services, models, and computing platforms. Neura attributes the robot’s quick development in large part to Nvidia. The business recently released a YouTube video that highlights the robot’s potential for both residential and industrial applications by showing it completing household tasks.

Because of its sensor skin and reinforced learning capabilities, the 4NE-1 can adjust and perform better over time. Neura claims the robot is truly collaborative, designed to take over repetitive tasks so humans can focus on creative or leisure activities. The company envisions the 4NE-1 as a solution to reduce workload stress while enhancing productivity.

“It should be the best robot on the market. I’m super excited to show something in June, which will actually beat also all the other humanoids on this planet,” David Reger, CEO of Neura Robotics, told TechFirst podcast.

Autonomous leap

Neura Robotics has built a diverse portfolio of robots, including MAiRA, the world’s first cognitive cobot. MAiRA uses artificial intelligence for autonomous operation and safe human interaction. The company also offers the MAV, a mobile robot for heavy load transport, and MiPA, a humanoid robot designed for tasks like serving trays in hospitals.

Through its cloud-based Neuraverse platform, Neura also creates cutting-edge software, in contrast to many robotics companies that only concentrate on hardware. Known as an “ecosystem for cognitive robotics,” the Neuraverse is a marketplace for robotic abilities and an operating system designed to spur innovation.

Many businesses displayed humanoid robots at CES 2025, demonstrating the momentum of the robotics sector. The humanoid robot “Melody,” created by Realbotix, is simple to assemble and disassemble. In the meantime, the full-size bipedal humanoid robot known as the “CASBOT 01” was introduced by China’s Lingbao CASBOT.

Neura Robotics is still striving for a dominant position in this competitive environment. The business intends to strengthen its R&D activities after receiving a large cash increase in January. Its goal is to develop widely accepted humanoid robots capable of performing household and industrial tasks.

Amid competition from the US and China, Neura Robotics is aiming to establish itself as a significant player in the automation sector by combining advanced hardware and software to enhance human-robot collaboration.