Apptronik
Apptronik is a robotics company based in Austin, Texas, specializing in the development of human-centered, AI-powered humanoid robots. Their primary focus is on creating robots like Apollo, designed to work alongside humans in various industries, initially in manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare and the home.
Apptronik's mission is to enhance human capabilities through robotics, emphasizing ethical and human-centric solutions
Seven Rivers Capital and its investors own Apptronik thru Investment Fund shares
Apptronik’s key investors include B Capital, Capital Factory, and Google, who co-led their $350 million Series A funding round. The round was later expanded to $403 million, with participation from Mercedes-Benz, Japan Post Capital, ARK Invest, Helium-3, Magnetar, RyderVentures, and Korea Investment Partners.
• Humanoid Robots:
Apptronik’s core focus is on building humanoid robots, which are robots designed with a human-like shape and abilities.
• Human-Centered Approach:
Apptronik emphasizes a human-centered approach, meaning their robots are designed to collaborate with and assist humans, rather than replace them.
• Industrial Focus:
Apptronik initially targets industries like manufacturing and logistics, with plans to expand into healthcare, elder care, and other sectors.
• Partnerships:
Apptronik collaborates with various organizations, including NASA and Google DeepMind, to advance their technology and expand their reach.
• Core Philosophy:
Apptronik’s philosophy is “It is not Man vs. Machine, but Man + Machine,” highlighting their commitment to creating robots that augment human capabilities.
• Spinout from University Research:
Apptronik was founded in 2016 as a spinout from the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas at Austin.
Apptronik’s flagship robot, Apollo, is a 5’8″, 160 lbs humanoid robot designed to work in real-world environments, capable of tasks like case picking, downstacking, and trailer unloading. Apollo was developed from Apptronik’s experience and expertise in building over 10 previous robots including NASA’s Valkyrie robot. Apollo will operate in warehouses and manufacturing plants in the near term eventually extending into construction, oil and gas, electronics production, retail, home delivery, elder care and countless more areas. Apollo is the first commercial humanoid robot that was designed for friendly interaction, mass manufacturability, high payloads and safety
Jabil, a global leader in engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain solutions, have announced a pilot and strategic collaboration to build Apollo humanoid robots and integrate them into specific Jabil manufacturing operations. This includes the production lines that will build Apollo humanoid robots, paving the way for Apollo to build Apollo.
As part of the pilot program, newly manufactured Apollo units will leverage Jabil’s factory environment for real-world validation testing. The robots will be used to complete an array of simple, repetitive intralogistics and manufacturing tasks, including inspection, sorting, kitting, lineside delivery, fixture placement, and sub-assembly before being deployed to Apptronik customer sites. When humanoids are introduced to Jabil’s manufacturing lines, they are to augment and support the existing workforce; people who may have previously done those repetitive tasks now can dedicate their time to more creative, thought-intensive projects that shape and improve the future of Jabil’s operations.
