Mercedes-Benz Deploys Humanoid Robots in Factories with Apptronik
Apptronik, a Texas-based robotics company, has partnered with Mercedes-Benz to deploy humanoid robots in manufacturing facilities. The robots, named Apollo, can automate physically demanding tasks, helping to address labor shortages and improve workplace safety.
Apptronik, established in 2016, has a rich history in robotics. It spun out of the University of Texas at Austin's Human Centered Robotics Lab and has built over 10 robots, including the Valkyrie for NASA. The Apollo robot is around the size of a human worker, standing 5 foot 8 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds. It can lift objects up to 55 pounds and work alongside humans for up to four hours.
Mercedes-Benz, like Tesla, sees the potential in AI-powered humanoid robots. The company plans to use Apollo for automating low skill, physically challenging tasks. The robots will initially be used to study potential use cases in logistics, such as delivering parts to assembly line workers. BMW has also announced a similar project in South Carolina.
Apptronik's Apollo robots, capable of automating physically demanding tasks, are set to revolutionize manufacturing. Mercedes-Benz's deployment of these robots signals a shift towards safer, more efficient workplaces. The robots' ability to work alongside humans for extended periods opens up new possibilities in industrial automation.
