On March 17th, reports surfaced that the German automotive giant Mercedes-Benz is teaming up with robotics startup Apptronik to incorporate humanoid robots named "Apollo" into its car production lines.
Currently, Apollo's primary role at the Mercedes factory involves tasks such as lifting, carrying, and assembling heavy components, transferring them to the production line for human workers to assemble, and inspecting these components simultaneously.
According to Apptronik, Apollo is equipped with a unique control architecture that enables it to work alongside humans in the same space while undertaking a range of physically demanding tasks.
Mercedes-Benz stated that, compared to a comprehensive overhaul of automotive production lines, the use of Apollo robots can reduce the occurrence of work-related injuries among employees and automate complex, repetitive, and monotonous tasks, thereby further enhancing productivity.
Reportedly, the Apollo humanoid robot stands at 173 centimeters tall, weighs 73 kilograms, and can lift objects weighing up to 25 kilograms, positioning itself as an assistant to workers in industrial environments.
Jeff Cardenas, co-founder and CEO of Apptronik, noted that Mercedes-Benz plans to leverage robotic technology and Apollo to automate some low-skilled, physically demanding labor tasks. This is a typical use case, and we can expect to see other organizations follow suit in the coming months and years.
