Navel Robotics

Munich, Germany

Founded 2019

About Navel Robotics

Navel Robotics is a Munich, Germany-based startup developing social robots for elderly care and dementia support. Founded in 2019 by Claude Toussaint (formerly managing director of a user experience agency), the company emerged from the "VIVA" research project working in collaboration with universities and other companies in a highly interdisciplinary team of natural and human scientists alongside hardware, software, and electronics engineers. Their robot Navel stands 72 centimeters tall with two arms, two wheels, a childlike voice, and a knitted hat. The robot combines artificial intelligence with social intelligence to provide empathetic interaction and companionship, addressing each person individually by name, remembering previous conversations, and engaging through everyday conversation, jokes, and poetry. Navel possesses broad knowledge spanning cooking, crafts, countries, history, art, and technology, designed to create a good atmosphere and maintain eye contact with users. The AI now runs on GPT-4o mini, enabling natural language understanding and emotional responsiveness. Navel has been deployed in 34+ German care facilities since fall 2023 with overwhelmingly positive results. Scientific studies show Navel improves cognitive abilities of dementia patients, enhances wellbeing and facility mood, and relieves caregivers. Every two weeks, the Munich team conducts virtual consultations connecting with facilities using the robots. "Made in Germany" manufacturing emphasizes European production standards. The robots are available for €28,000 one-time purchase or €970 monthly lease from pilot production. Navel Robotics won first place in the Digital Health Award, receiving €25,000 in recognition.