Apollo

Apollo from Apptronik represents one of the most commercially advanced humanoid robots targeting manufacturing environments, backed by a landmark partnership with Mercedes-Benz announced in March 2024. The Austin, Texas-based company spun out of the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas, bringing decades of academic research into a commercial product.

Standing nearly 6 feet tall (173 cm) and weighing 160 pounds (73 kg), Apollo can lift loads up to 55 pounds (25 kg) and operate 22 hours a day, seven days a week. Hot-swappable battery packs provide approximately 4 hours of runtime each, allowing continuous operation through simple battery changes rather than lengthy charging cycles. The robot features five-digit hands and a unique force control architecture designed for safe operation around human workers.

The Mercedes-Benz partnership, involving a "low double-digit-million-euro" investment and represents Apollo's first major commercial deployment. The robots are being tested at Mercedes' Digital Factory Campus in Berlin and facilities in Hungary, performing tasks like bringing parts to production workers, delivering kitted components, and conducting quality inspections. Data collection combines human teleoperation and augmented reality with autonomous operations.

Apollo benefits from strategic AI partnerships with both NVIDIA and Google DeepMind. NVIDIA's Project GR00T enables Apollo to learn new tasks rapidly from human demonstrations, while Google's Gemini Robotics AI integration enhances adaptability. This combination of robust hardware, commercial validation from a major manufacturer, and cutting-edge AI positions Apollo as a serious contender in industrial humanoid robotics.