The Motion Technology Company Schaeffler and Neura Robotics, a high-tech company in the field of cognitive robotics, have founded a trailblazing technology partnership. The collaboration covers the development and supply of key components – such as innovative actuators – for humanoid robots. Moreover, Schaeffler will deploy humanoids from Neura in its global production network and integrate a mid-four-digit number of humanoids into its production by 2035. In doing so, Schaeffler is also collaborating with other renowned manufacturers.

Through the partnership, Neura Robotics is securing a significant portion of its requirement for compact, lightweight actuators for continuous duty operation. Both companies generate real application data that is essential for training humanoid robots. This data will be incorporated into the Neuraverse, a global cognitive ecosystem that connects physical AI and enables it to learn faster so as to continuously optimize the capabilities of robots.

Andreas Schick, Chief Operating Officer of Schaeffler AG, comments: “Humanoid robotics is an important growth segment for Schaeffler, and Neura is one of the most innovative companies in Europe. The collaboration underscores our position as a preferred technology partner in this field."

“Schaeffler will bring decades of product and industrialization expertise to the partnership. By combining our expertise strategically, we are not only strengthening our own competitiveness but as pioneers in technology we are also setting benchmarks for Germany as a business location.”

Andreas Schick, Chief Operating Officer of Schaeffler AG

David Reger, CEO and founder of Neura Robotics, says: “With Schaeffler, one of Germany’s largest and most experienced industrial players is underscoring that you cannot wait for new technologies but must actively advance them. This is how the German automotive industry once became a world market leader hand in hand with the automation sector. Together, we are committed to driving the industrialization of humanoids forward and creating above all what makes them deployable on an industrial scale: a global ecosystem for Physical AI, built on an independent European data foundation.”

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Humanoids learn in real production environments

A key component of the partnership is the joint capture and use of production data as the basis for developing the industrial robotics skills that will be needed in the production environment of the future. Cutting-edge systems enable motion and interaction data in the production environment to be generated and used for training AI models. This means that humanoid robots can be systematically trained to do specific tasks and continually refined and improved. Through this collaboration, new skills based on real application data are being developed for Schaeffler while the Neuraverse database is being expanded.

Schaeffler will also contribute its extensive expertise in the development of planetary gear actuators. These actuators are used, for instance, in joints that carry out precise rotational movements such as shoulders, elbows, knees or wrists. Despite their compact and lightweight construction, they need to be designed for maximum torque in continuous duty operation. Schaeffler’s actuator range for humanoids offers torque ratings of up to Nm 250. This would allow humanoid 4NE1, for example, to carry even heavy loads.

Legs versus wheels – 3 questions for ...

© Schaeffler

Sebastian Jonas, Senior Vice President, Advanced Production Technology at Schaeffler

More than half of ­industrial companies worldwide consider autonomous mobile robots, in other words robots on wheels like Schaeffler’s mobile cobot Emma, an important ­technology in the factories of the future. A little less, i.e., 43 %, believe that humanoid robots will be integral ­components of future assembly processes. In what areas do robots on wheels make more sense than robots on legs?
Robots on wheels such as autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are especially beneficial in areas like intra­logistics, mobile inspection tasks, and warehouses. Their efficiency, speed, and low energy consumption on flat ­surfaces make them ideally suited for hauling goods, components, or tools in factory floor or warehouse areas. Their top speed is typically around 2.5 m/s (8 ft/s) compared to humanoid legged robots that achieve about 1.5 m/s (5 ft/s).

Is it technically conceivable that humanoids will be designed as hybrid solutions – with small wheels attached to their feet?
Yes, the technical implementation of humanoid robots with small wheels attached to their feet is not only conceivable but has already been made a reality. Hybrid solutions like these combine the benefit of the human form for interaction and operation with the efficiency of wheels for locomotion.

Do we really need humanoid robots on legs if semi-humanoid robots on wheels can carry out similar tasks faster and at lower costs?
The need for humanoid robots on wheels depends on the use case. The difference lies not only in their form or locomotion but also in the cognitive and sensory abilities that characterize humanoid robots. These abilities include smart sensors enabling seeing and feeling, cognitive abilities and autonomous learning due to AI models, and interaction with humans, for instance through natural language processing.