Over the course of the last year, the Apollo humanoid robot has evolved since its first commercial tests. GXO Logistics has announced the implementation of a proof-of-concept program in collaboration with Apptronik. This partnership focuses on adapting humanoid prototypes to meet the demands of the logistics industry.
Innovation in logistics robotics
“We are excited to collaborate with Apptronik on the development of their humanoid robot with artificial intelligence,” said Adrian Stoch, director of automation at GXO Logistics.
Stoch also noted that this robotic technology reduces repetitive tasks and improves safety, allowing employees to concentrate on higher value-added activities. As the research and development project with Apptronik progresses, GXO will also evaluate the robot’s applicability in other critical cases.
Headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, GXO Logistics describes itself as the world’s largest single-source contract logistics provider, benefiting from the growth of e-commerce, automation and outsourcing. The company employs more than 130,000 people in more than 970 facilities, totaling approximately 200 million square feet.
Apollo: the Apptronik robot
Apptronik, which spun out of the University of Texas at Austin’s Human-Centered Robotics Lab in 2016, designed Apollo to work alongside humans. . This robot is the result of accumulated experience in the design and development of more than 10 general-purpose robots, including extensive collaboration with NASA’s Valkyrie project.
Apollo is 172.7 cm (5 ft. 8 in.) tall, can carry up to 24.9 kg (55 lbs.) and uses interchangeable batteries that allow for continuous operation. According to Apptronik, its system employs linear actuators that replicate the mechanics of human muscles, offering full mobility.
In March, Apptronik announced the integration of Apollo with NVIDIA’s base model, for robot learning, as part of the Project GR00T . It was also mentioned that Mercedes-Benz is testing this humanoid robot.
The safety and collaboration of the humanoid robot Apollo
Apollo has a force control architecture and a flexible security perimeter that allows it to operate safely around and directly with people. Apptronik and GXO are jointly evaluating the robot’s performance in a lab to fine-tune the artificial intelligence model prior to its deployment in a GXO distribution center in the U.S.
Jeff Cardenas, co-founder and CEO of Apptronik, underscored his company’s commitment to building versatile robots for real-world applications, from moving boxes and bags to performing small, precise movements such as picking individual items or scanning bar codes. This commitment aligns with GXO’s mission to optimize its logistics operations and improve its employees’ work environment through the use of Apollo.
The new GXO robot. Source: Apptronik
GXO has been evaluating other humanoid robots, such as Agility Robotics’ Digit, which won the “RBR50 Robot of the Year” award. Although humanoids have been a recurring theme at conferences and trade shows, Digit and Apollo are among the few moving toward commercial testing. Last year, GXO increased its total warehouse automation units by approximately 50%, also testing a variety of new hardware and software, including autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence-driven robotics.
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Source and photo: GXO Logistics
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