Video Transcript
Austin, TX-based Apptronik recently name dropped one of the world’s most prestigious automakers as a partner in its quest to roll out humanoid robots. The robot company says it will collaborate with Mercedes-Benz on “identifying applications for highly advanced robotics in Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing.”
As for what this means, Mercedes already has something in mind, and it’s a familiar application: Apptronik CEO Jeff Cardenas says the automaker will hope to automate low-skill manual labor tasks that tend to be physically demanding and, therefore, hard to staff. This will likely include things like moving totes or assembly kits to production lines, as well as inspecting parts.
The pilot plans to leverage the Apollo, which is Apptronik’s commercial bot that’s been purpose-built for mass manufacturing. The company says its humanoid will start in plants and warehouses and eventually extend to other applications, including construction, retail, and elder care.
The news from Mercedes comes on the heels of other efforts to combine humanoid robotics with factory objectives. These include Amazon’s tests of its Agility Digit bots for warehouse fulfillment tasks, as well as BMW’s partnership with Figure to reportedly use humanoids for assembly work.
The benefits of using the humanoid form factor have to do with facility design in many cases. Instead of redesigning facilities, equipment, or processes to accommodate a uniquely sized and configured robot, this approach does the opposite: it tailors the automation to the existing environment.
To that end, the Apollo should fit right into the existing space. Apptronik says its bot is 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs 160 pounds, and features the ability to lift 55 pounds.
