A robot gripping a component needs more than the position of its fingers. Is the part slipping? Has a connection clicked into place? NEURA Robotics wants its new 4NE1 to use those signals to move more skilfully.
The German company unveiled its fourth generation on 22 October at the opening of the TUM RoboGym near Munich. The video shows the black humanoid walking among visitors. Its practical ambition is to learn industrial work through perception and physical interaction.
Reflexes closer to the muscles
Smart Limbs put responses directly into the limbs, which NEURA says can react independently. The new generation also has improved hands, a textile outer skin and a body the company says is 20 percent lighter.
Neuron AI combines vision with touch, force, sound and the robot’s own state. That matters in assembly: a joint may look correct without being properly fastened. Resistance or a click can provide extra information.
Practising before deployment
The 2,300-square-metre RoboGym combines human demonstrations, simulation and real robot trials. Companies bring tasks such as handling boxes, filling bottles and loading wooden components. Different robot types work on those tasks; they are not all established autonomous capabilities of this 4NE1.
The interesting pairing is a more responsive body and a place to teach it useful skills. Gen 4 already operates at NEURA training facilities and is being prepared for series production. Companies can test which particular job it can take on before moving it onto their own factory floor.
