David Reger, founder and CEO of Munich-based Neura Robotics, is building humanoid robots — and a reputation with a touch of déjà vu. In the German press, he’s sometimes dubbed the “Young Elon Musk.” 

It’s a nickname Reger embraces, despite all of the controversy surrounding the world’s richest man. “For me, it’s a positive, not a negative,” he told TNW in an interview. “I respect how Musk builds companies, how successful he is, how fearless he is to drive things further.”

Musk’s politics, Reger continues, aren’t the focus of his admiration. “I’m just thinking about technological advancement and how to move that further and faster, and I admire Musk for that.”

Like Musk, Reger has speed on his mind. Founded in 2019, Neura has quickly grown into one of Europe’s best-funded robotics startups, with over 600 employees. It’s already commercialised multiple robots, including a robotic arm for manufacturing and a load-carrying robot. And next month, the company will unveil the third generation of the 4NE-1 robot, which it claims will be the world’s most advanced humanoid. 

4NE-1 — as the name implies — is a robot built for anyone. The human-like bot is designed to be equally capable of folding your washing at home as it is stacking boxes in a warehouse.

The current version of 4NE-1 is 180cm tall, tips the scales at about 80kg, and can carry items weighing up to 15kg. With a top speed of 3km/h, though, it’s a bit of a slowcoach. Its performance is set to improve in the third generation — we’ll have to wait to find out.

What sets the humanoid apart, according to Reger, is its cognitive abilities. “It can touch, think, and react in much the same way humans do,” he said. 

That’s thanks to a network of sensors and cameras embedded throughout its body. These feed real-time data to an AI system that interprets the environment and makes split-second decisions.

The third generation of 4NE-1 will have more of these sensors than other humanoids, Reger said, allowing better data collection and closing the loop between virtual and physical worlds. 

While Reger is confident that Neura is building the best humanoid, competition will be fierce. There are hundreds of companies developing human-like robots globally — including Musk’s car firm Tesla. The company is currently developing Optimus, also known as the “Tesla bot.” 

Optimus is not dissimilar to Neura’s 4NE-1. Measuring 173cm and weighing 57kg, it’s also designed to be multi-purpose. It can fold washing, water plants, and vacuum, according to a recent demo video. Tesla aims to produce between 5,000 to 12,000 Optimus units this year. 

“I see Musk as my only competitor in the segment,” said Reger. 

Although Reger admires Musk, he’s wary of the impact his recent antics could have on robotics. He fears the political controversies could set the industry back. 

“For humanoids to be accepted in people’s homes and work lives, trust is everything,” said Reger. “So he should be careful with what he is doing.”