The collaboration between NEURA Robotics and Drees & Sommer illustrates a profound shift in architecture and engineering: buildings are becoming adaptive, processes are becoming more automated, secure, and efficient, and robotics integration is being considered from the design phase onwards. The goal is clear: to create built environments that can interact intelligently with humans and machines, enabling more sustainable and resilient operation.
“We connect the physical and digital worlds to enable robots to interact more effectively with their environment and with people,” explains Dierk Mutschler, member of the Board of Management at Drees & Sommer. “This opens up new perspectives for healthcare facilities, production sites, office buildings, and airport infrastructure.”
Smart buildings need smart players
For David Reger, CEO and founder of NEURA Robotics, robots are set to play a central role in these new ecosystems. Founded in 2019 in Metzingen, the company has established itself as one of the pioneers of cognitive robotics by developing a coherent technological approach based on a single device integrating sensors and artificial intelligence.
“Robots will soon be more than just tools; they will be true intelligent companions in our buildings,” he emphasizes. "Connected, autonomous, and self-learning, they will step in where the labor shortage is greatest, particularly for cleaning, maintenance, and technical services. This will significantly reduce the human workload, save time, and improve safety."
Sanitary facilities: a key lever for hygiene and efficiency
Sanitary facilities were chosen as the first area of application. High traffic, high hygiene requirements, and a lack of qualified personnel make this area particularly critical. Cognitive robots can detect contamination, adapt their actions to the context, replenish consumables, and report technical anomalies before a breakdown occurs. The result: more reliable processes, improved cleanliness, and increased safety on a daily basis.
The building as a digital nervous system
At the heart of the collaboration is the concept of a “sensorized environment.” Light, movement, temperature, sound, and other signals are captured and analyzed in real time to improve the interaction between people, spaces, and robots. The building is thus transformed into a true digital nervous system: robots not only operate in the space, but with it.
“Our robots see, hear, and feel their environment. They make decisions autonomously and learn from experience,” explains David Reger. Key technologies, including AI functionalities, are developed in-house by NEURA Robotics and integrated into a software platform that aims to bring humans and technology closer together in a sustainable way.
Towards a cognitive and sustainable infrastructure
Drees & Sommer brings its expertise in planning, sensor technologies, digital twins, and IT/OT networks to this partnership. Founded in 1970, the company is now an international consulting firm, managed by its partners, which supports players in real estate, infrastructure, and industry with sustainable, innovative, and economically viable solutions. The group employs around 6,500 people in more than 70 offices worldwide and has a strong presence in Luxembourg, where more than 130 employees work on projects contributing to a more sustainable future.
“We are no longer talking solely about technical building equipment, but about cognitive infrastructure,” concludes Veit Thurm, partner at Drees & Sommer. “Buildings that are capable of perceiving their environment, interpreting situations, and interacting with robots in a secure, scalable, and increasingly autonomous manner.”