The Apollo robot combines humanoid hardware and AI. Source: Uptronic
A year full of news about humanoid robots is coming to an end with further developments. Apptronik Inc. today announced a partnership with the Google DeepMind robotics team. The companies said this strategic partnership will combine artificial intelligence and robotic hardware to enable humanoids to better serve people in dynamic environments.
Jeff Cardenas, co-founder and CEO of Apptronik, asserted, “We are building a future where humanoid robots address urgent global challenges.” “By combining Apptronik’s cutting-edge robotics platform with the unparalleled AI expertise of the Google DeepMind robotics team, we are developing intelligent, versatile, and safe robots that will transform industries and improve lives.”
Other companies working to advance AI and humanoids include Hillbot, Persona AI, LimX Dynamics, NVIDIA, and Sanctuary AI.
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Apollo is the culmination of Apptronik’s design work
Apptronik, which spun out of the University of Texas at Austin’s Human-Centered Robotics Lab in 2016, currently has 150 employees. The company said it has nearly 10 years of experience with human-centered design and hardware designed with safety and reliability in mind. The team has worked on 15 robots to date, including NASA’s Valkyrie Robot.
Apptronik developed the Apollo humanoid to perform physically demanding tasks and operate safely in industrial spaces alongside humans. The robot is 5 feet 8 inches (172.2 cm) tall and weighs 160 pounds (72.5 kg).
Apollo is designed to balance complexity and functionality for early applications in manufacturing and logistics, the company said. The robot won Apptronik a 2024 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award for its custom linear actuators.
Many companies are developing humanoids, including 1X, Agility Robotics, Boston Dynamics, Figure AI, Fourier, Realbotix, Tesla, and Unitree, but relatively few have moved into commercial testing so far.
Mercedes-Benz announced in March that it was testing Apollo in car manufacturing. In April, Apptronik announced that it would integrate its systems with NVIDIA’s Project GR00T foundation model for robot learning and agility.
Apptronik announced in June that GXO Logistics Inc. is testing its humanoid robot for warehouse applications. GXO has also introduced Digit from Agility Robotics and is testing a “general purpose” humanoid from Reflex Robotics.
Apptronik’s stated goal is to eventually provide services in healthcare and the home. Parker Conroy, Product Director at Apptronik, spoke about AI and humanoids at RoboBusiness 2024.
GXO Logistics is testing the Apollo humanoid robot. Source: Uptronic
Google DeepMind builds robot brains
Google DeepMind said its robotics team brings together expertise in machine learning, engineering, and physics simulation to address the toughest challenges facing the development of AI-powered robots. The London-based unit of Alphabet Inc. claimed to be developing “AI systems that support robotics applications and enable real-world reasoning and action.”
DeepMind’s robotics team has pioneered foundational models and developed AI models such as Gemini for robotics (see video below). The Athena Instructor Award recognized Maja Matarić, chief scientist at Google DeepMind, for her research in socially assistive robots.
DeepMind recently shared progress with its ALOHA Unleashed platform to help robots learn to perform complex two-arm manipulation tasks. The company also built DemoStart, which uses simulation to improve the performance of multi-fingered robotic hands.
Apptronik said its partnership with Google DeepMind further builds on its momentum, with more partnerships to be announced next year.
