Apollo A1: Built for the Hard but Also the Tricky Stuff

Meet Apollo by Apptronik

Apollo isn’t just your average humanoid robot—it’s the result of years of hard work by Apptronik, an Austin-based company that knows a thing or two about robotics. After building over 10 robots, including NASA’s Valkyrie, they’ve packed all that experience into Apollo. And what we get isn’t just an intelligent humanoid; it is also safe, affordable, and versatile, making it perfect for all those "dull, dirty, and dangerous" jobs that humans would rather skip.

Standing at 5'8" (approx. 1.73 meters) and weighing 160 pounds (approx. 72.6 kg), Apollo can carry up to 55 pounds (25 kg) and run for four hours on a single charge, making it a practical solution for work in logistics and manufacturing.

Apollo is a Humanoid for Every Task

Apollo's first job will be handling cases and totes in warehouses, but that’s just the beginning. Apptronik has big plans for this humanoid robot, imagining it working everywhere, from construction sites to elder care facilities and even making home deliveries. Apollo could one day be helping out in space exploration too! The goal is to turn Apollo into a do-it-all robot capable of lifting heavy boxes in one minute and performing precise machine work in the next.

Jeff Cardenas, Apptronik's CEO, calls Apollo the "iPhone of robots," and for good reason. Its modular design makes it super flexible—you can update and reprogram Apollo for new tasks with just a software tweak. This adaptability is a game-changer for businesses looking to boost their operations without a huge investment. Plus, Apptronik wants to make Apollo affordable and easy to produce, with a future price tag that's expected to be less than your average car.

Apollo’s Top Priority: Keeping Things Safe

Safety is a big deal for Apollo, and it shows in its advanced design. This robot is equipped with vision perception and force sensing, so it knows when people are nearby. If someone gets too close, Apollo can slow down or even stop to keep everyone safe. Its special force control architecture lets Apollo move its arms safely around people, just like a collaborative robot would, rather than an industrial one. And if Apollo ever detects that it’s about to fall, it’s smart enough to "curl up" to protect both itself and its surroundings from damage.

Apollo’s Inner Workings: Muscles, Mobility, and More

Apollo operates like a human body in many ways, but what really sets it apart is its use of linear actuators instead of the usual rotary ones—making it the only humanoid robot with this kind of "muscle" system. This unique feature gives Apollo a more natural range of motion, making it better suited for a variety of tasks.

Apollo’s modular design is another game-changer. Whether mounted on legs, a wheeled base, or a pedestal, Apollo can be customized to fit whatever job it’s needed for.

And when it comes to endurance, Apollo’s hot-swappable battery packs keep it going strong. Each battery lasts four hours, and with a quick swap, Apollo is back on the job with no downtime.

Innovative Features for Enhanced Interaction

The design of Apollo avoids the eerie "uncanny valley" effect that can make some humanoid robots unsettling, giving it a friendly appearance that’s easy to work with. Thus, Apollo is built to be a helpful and approachable coworker. To keep things simple for users, Apollo features digital panels on its chest, head, and mouth that display important information like battery life and task status. This way, anyone can quickly understand what Apollo is up to without special training.

Apollo’s Big Moves: Partnering with Giants

As Apptronik gears up to launch Apollo commercially, they’re not doing it alone—they’re forming key partnerships with industry leaders who are just as excited about this technology. One major collaboration is with NVIDIA, where they’re integrating advanced AI into Apollo using NVIDIA’s Project GR00T. This partnership allows Apollo to learn tasks by watching humans, enabling it to handle complex jobs like operating a juicer all by itself.

Apollo is also stepping into the automotive world through a partnership with Mercedes-Benz. In this role, Apollo will be deployed in Mercedes-Benz manufacturing plants to assist with logistics tasks, such as delivering assembly kits to production lines. The best part? Apollo is designed to work in human-centric spaces, so there’s no need for massive facility overhauls to accommodate robots.

On the logistics front, GXO Logistics is working with Apptronik in a multi-phase R&D initiative. They’re testing Apollo’s performance in warehouse settings, focusing on cutting down repetitive tasks and boosting safety. These partnerships highlight how Apollo is not just a robot for one industry—it’s versatile enough to make a difference across multiple fields.