A lot of tech companies are developing humanoid robots, fully aware that they will likely be used by businesses for labor. Although one of the anticipated releases is that of Tesla, several companies like Apptronik have already beaten the EV giant as they release an already functioning robot.
Apptronik's Apollo
The newly released robot weighs around 160 lbs with a height of 5'8" with its humanoid build. However, Apollo was built to be modular and can be mounted to other mobility platforms like stationary stands and perhaps even wheels.
The robot is created to operate in warehouses and manufacturing plants, mainly carrying items that weigh up to 55 lbs. The company intends to expand the humanoid bot's functions and apply it to other industries such as construction, electronics production, and even elder care.
Unlike the standard rechargeable build, Apollo uses hot-swappable battery packs that give it up to four hours of continuous runtime. This eliminates the need to halt operations to charge the robot since the battery can just be replaced with a charged one.
Apollo is programmed with a perimeter zone and the robot's behavior can be adjusted based on the objects it detects for a safe working environment. It can also detect impact zones so it can stop its movement to prevent any incident.
It's a safer option considering that it comes with force control, and it can be more useful than industrial machines since they are more mobile. Apollo can be automated through its software, which also happens to have a point-and-click control.
Read also: Elon Musk Reveals Tesla Bot on AI Day: Humanoid Robot Will Do 'Boring,' 'Dangerous' Work!
What Can It Be Used For?
Since the robot is shaped like a human, it has a lot of potential in terms of capabilities. For one, it can be used for unloading trailers. As pointed out by Apptronik, it can address the labor shortage that is affecting the logistics business.
Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) can be used for case picking as well. This task not only uses up a lot of labor work for human employees, but it also requires a lot of equipment since some items are too heavy to carry.
The robots can be a general replacement for pallet jacks, walkie-riders, and other transportation vehicles, as well as save people from having to shoulder heavy lifting that could lead to injuries. The robot will have no trouble since as mentioned before, it can carry up to 55 lbs.
Given that Apollo can be mounted on wheeled platforms, they can also serve as work cell delivery machines, which can move products across warehouses at a faster rate while carrying more loads all at once.
Companies can already inquire about the assistive robot for their businesses, although the company hasn't announced public pricing for the Apollo yet. Prospective buyers can contact the company through the website when they're interested in becoming a vendor.
It's also possible to just ask simple inquiries and learn more about the company's products and services. Certain information will be needed for the company to respond such as name, email address, phone number, and company name.
