NEURA Robotics Executive Talk | Klaus Rosenfeld (Schaeffler) on Physical AI

In this talk

1. 0:43

   Scaling beyond prototypes

   Rosenfeld says labor shortages make robotics increasingly necessary, with Europe, China, and Japan expected to have about 100 million fewer workers by 2030. He sees the challenge as turning promising concepts into products that can be made in large volumes and used across different settings.

2. 3:19

   Building an entrepreneurial partnership

   Rosenfeld describes Schaeffler investing in a developing market despite uncertainty about when returns will come. Separate business structures and younger teams help the company move with more entrepreneurial speed, while NEURA brings a different approach that pushes Schaeffler to adapt.

3. 5:42

   Pairing components with application know-how

   Schaeffler wants to understand how parts perform in real applications, not only how to manufacture them. Its production facilities can let partners test humanoids, observe where movements fail, and improve the design and use of components together.

4. 9:07

   Competing through engineering and reliability

   Rosenfeld says actuator design requires testing tradeoffs in weight, efficiency, materials, and manufacturability, while continuing to learn from competitors. He emphasizes making products reliable and affordable at scale, and planning for maintenance, replacement parts, and the full product life cycle.

5. 13:08

   Designing a platform for many uses

   Rosenfeld expects humanoid systems to need modular designs that work across applications such as factories and homes. He points to service models, replaceable joints, and end-to-end planning from design through production and operation as ways to support that range.