Backed by giants such as Google and Mercedes-Benz, the American startup Apptronik has just made two major announcements. On the one hand, it introduced a learning platform named Apollo 2. On the other, the leadership revealed the opening of a giant training center: the Robot Park. What should be known about this company and what are its intentions?
The Apollo 2 Learning Platform
Founded in Texas in 2016, the company Apptronik has developed no fewer than fifteen different robotic systems, including exoskeletons and mechanical arms. In 2023, the startup reached a decisive milestone with the introduction of Apollo, a humanoid robot standing 1.73 meters tall, weighing 73 kg, and capable of carrying loads up to 25 kg. One potential application is factory work, thanks to swappable batteries with a four-hour endurance. In an official press release published on June 30, 2026, Apptronik unveiled the Apollo 2 project. It is a learning platform that, at present, is not yet a finalized commercial product. For now, it is described as a prototype to prepare a future fleet of robots. Available in two models, Apollo 2’s build and capabilities are fairly similar to the initial version.
“Designed to learn real-world tasks through large-scale data collection, Apollo 2 enables Apptronik to gather diverse data for a broad range of tasks and environments.”, reads the press release.
Nevertheless, Apollo 2 brings several enhancements, including a new generation of patented actuators that offer 90% energy efficiency. The first version used patented actuators that were more energy-hungry and noisy. Apollo 2 incorporates a larger battery, sensors redesigned specifically for artificial intelligence, and improved object handling. Also noteworthy is the optional wheel option, indicating a degree of modularity. For the company, the aim is to give robots greater adaptability to best meet the needs of future customers.
Giant Training Center and Partnership with Google DeepMind
In the long term, the goal is to ready Apollo 3, the final version of Apptronik’s robot for large-scale commercialization, which is expected to begin in 2027. The Texas-based startup, which hopes to become a serious rival to Figure AI and Tesla, believes its robot will be fully operational thanks to the work carried out within the Apollo 2 project. This is the reason the company also announced the opening of its new giant training center – the Robot Park – in Austin.
The Robot Park is an eight thousand three hundred square meter facility, roughly the size of a hypermarket. It will host Apollo robots in learning, repeating daily tasks across various domains, including industrial manufacturing, logistics, and stock management for retail. It is worth noting that smaller Robot Park facilities already exist, notably at the automotive manufacturer Mercedes-Benz and the logistics firm GXO.
Finally, Apptronik has forged a partnership with Google DeepMind. Thus, all physical data collected by Apollo robots will feed directly into Gemini Robotics, Google’s AI model dedicated to robotics. This creates a continuous learning loop, as the machines will learn and improve constantly thanks to their own experiences, much like humans.
Source : Apptronik unveils Apollo 2 humanoid robot, opens Robot Park data collection and training facility (robotics247.com)
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