Backed by giants such as Google and Mercedes-Benz, the American startup Apptronik has just made a pair of highly significant announcements. On one hand, it unveiled a learning platform named Apollo 2. On the other, officials announced the inauguration of a large training center: Robot Park. What should one know about this company and what are its intentions?
The Apollo 2 Learning Platform
Founded in Texas in 2016, Apptronik has developed no fewer than fifteen different robotic systems, including exoskeletons and mechanical arms. In 2023, the startup reached a crucial milestone with the introduction of Apollo, a humanoid robot standing 1.73 m tall, weighing 73 kg, and capable of carrying loads of up to 25 kg. One of its potential applications is factory work, thanks to swappable batteries with a four-hour runtime. In an official statement published on June 30, 2026, Apptronik unveiled the Apollo 2 project. This is a learning platform that is not yet a final commercial product. For now, it is described as a prototype intended to prepare a future fleet of robots. Marketed in two models, Apollo 2 has a build and capabilities quite similar to the first version.
“Designed to learn real-world tasks through large-scale data collection, Apollo 2 enables Apptronik to gather diverse data for a wide range of tasks and environments.”, reads the press release.
Apollo 2 nevertheless brings several improvements, including a new generation of patented actuators with 90% energy efficiency. The first version was equipped with energy-hungry and noisier patented actuators. Apollo 2 carries a larger battery, sensors redesigned specifically for artificial intelligence, and improved object handling. Also noted is the option to add wheels, signaling a degree of modularity. For the company, this aims to give the robots greater adaptability to better meet the needs of future customers.
Giant Training Center and Partnership with Google DeepMind
Ultimately, the goal is to advance Apollo 3, Apptronik’s final version of the robot, with mass-market commercialization expected to begin in 2027. The Texas startup, which hopes to become a serious competitor to Figure AI and Tesla, believes its robot will be fully operational thanks to work conducted under the Apollo 2 project. That is why the company also announced the opening of its new large training center, Robot Park, in Austin.
Robot Park is an infrastructure spanning about 8,300 square meters, the size of a hypermarket. It will host Apollo robots in training, who will repeat daily tasks across various domains, including industrial manufacturing, logistics, and stock management for retail. Note that smaller Robot Park facilities already exist, notably at automobile manufacturer Mercedes-Benz and the logistics company GXO.
Finally, Apptronik has sealed a partnership with Google DeepMind. Thus, all physical data collected by the Apollo robots will feed directly into Gemini Robotics, Google’s AI model dedicated to robotics. This therefore creates a continuous learning loop, since machines will learn and improve constantly thanks to their own experiences, just like humans.
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