Apptronik
Apptronik is a robotics company in Austin, Texas, that makes Apollo, a general-purpose humanoid robot built to work in manufacturing and logistics. It was founded in 2016 in the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas at Austin, and its team has designed more than ten robots, including extensive work on NASA's Valkyrie humanoid. Apollo stands about 173 cm (5 ft 8 in), weighs about 73 kg (160 lb) and can lift about 25 kg (55 lb), and is designed for tasks such as moving totes, delivering kits of parts and inspecting components. Mercedes-Benz signed a commercial agreement in March 2024 to pilot Apollo in its car factories and later invested in the company. In December 2024 Apptronik partnered with Google DeepMind to bring its Gemini-based AI to Apollo. The company raised a US$350 million Series A in February 2025, led by B Capital and Capital Factory with Google participating, and extended it to US$403 million in March 2025.
💡Notable Achievement: Apptronik developed Apollo, a 5'8" commercial humanoid robot designed for mass manufacturability and safe human collaboration, and in 2024-2025 raised large funding (including a reported $403M round) and launched Elevate Robotics as a spinoff to commercialize non-humanoid industrial systems.
What Does Apptronik Do?
Apptronik develops modular, enterprise-grade humanoid robots engineered for safe human collaboration, automotive line kitting, and supply chain logistics automation.
“Commercial-grade modular humanoid featuring hot-swappable batteries and NASA-derived control heritage.”
Modular Torso Architecture
Detachable humanoid upper body that can mount to bipedal legs, wheeled platforms, or fixed pedestals.
Hot-Swappable Battery
Chest-mounted battery pack swapped in seconds to eliminate lengthy charging downtime.
Collaborative Safety Compliance
Force-limiting actuators and whole-body perception enabling safe human proximity operation.
What Can Apptronik Robots Actually Do?
Cross-portfolio operational capabilities, manipulation tasks, and environmental competencies
Assembly line kitting, heavy tote transport, swappable power management, and collaborative human assistance.
Hot-Swap Power System
Quick-release chest battery pack providing 4 hours of continuous runtime with zero tether downtime.
55 lb (25 kg) Payload
High continuous lifting capacity among the highest in anthropomorphic general-purpose humanoids.
Automotive Line Kitting
Delivering assembly components and sequenced parts bins directly to human line workers at Mercedes-Benz.
Collaborative Force Limits
Compliance-driven actuators that yield upon contact to prevent workplace injuries in tight workspaces.
Apptronik Robots
Showing 2 Humanoid Robots of 2 total models
Apollo 2
By: Apptronik
Launched: 2026
Apollo 2 is a next-generation modular humanoid robot engineered for the demanding realities of warehouse logistics and manufacturing. Standing 5'8" (172 cm) tall and weighing 160 lbs (73 kg), it matches human scale to operate safely alongside workers. The robot features a swappable battery architecture enabling approximately 4 hours of operation per pack, supporting continuous "7x22" workflows with minimal downtime. It can lift and carry payloads up to 55 lbs (25 kg), making it ideal for moving crates, totes, and boxes. Apollo 2 supports dual mobility modes: bipedal legs for human environments and a wheeled base for warehouse floors. Powered by Apptronik's proprietary high-efficiency actuators and a three-layer software stack including Artemis motion control, it targets six key applications such as goods-to-person retrieval, packout, and machine tending.
Apollo
By: Apptronik
Launched: 2023
Apollo is a next-gen humanoid robot built for real-world work. Standing nearly as tall as a human, Apollo is engineered to perform physical tasks in logistics, manufacturing, and services. With a sleek design, modular build, and the ability to safely interact with humans, Apollo brings a sci-fi vision to life. It’s not just a concept — it’s a practical, strong, and intelligent workforce assistant that can lift 25 kg, move with grace, and even be remotely operated or AI-powered. Apollo is where robotics meets reality.
Apptronik Software & AI Ecosystem
Developer platforms, fleet management portals, autonomy intelligence, and enterprise integrations
Apptronik Motion Stack
Real-Time Dynamics Engine
Whole-body coordination software combining dynamic balance with precise multi-axis arm trajectory control.
NVIDIA Project GR00T Integration
Foundation Humanoid Models
Leverages NVIDIA Isaac Sim and GR00T models for accelerated imitation and reinforcement learning on physical hardware.
Apptronik Timeline & Milestones
Evolutionary history, landmark prototypes, major acquisitions, and commercial roadmap
Apptronik founded at UT Austin
Apptronik is founded out of the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas at Austin, building on work including NASA's Valkyrie humanoid.
Source: prnewswire.com
Commercial agreement with Mercedes-Benz
Apptronik and Mercedes-Benz agree to pilot the Apollo humanoid in Mercedes-Benz manufacturing facilities, delivering kits and totes of parts.
Source: prnewswire.com
Strategic partnership with Google DeepMind
Apptronik partners with the Google DeepMind robotics team to combine its AI models with Apptronik's humanoid hardware.
Source: globenewswire.com
$350 million Series A
Apptronik raises US$350 million in a Series A led by B Capital and Capital Factory, with participation from Google, to scale Apollo production.
Source: globenewswire.com
Series A extended to $403 million
Apptronik closes additional Series A funding, including from Mercedes-Benz, bringing the round to US$403 million.
Source: globenewswire.com
Apptronik Competitors by Category
Direct industry rivals grouped by specific robotics domain
What Makes Apptronik Different?
Editorial AnalysisOrigin of Bots objective strategic assessment, engineering moats, and commercial hurdles
Key Strengths & Moats
- ✓Heritage rooted in NASA Valkyrie humanoid development with deep series-elastic actuator expertise.
- ✓Hot-swappable battery design solves the battery downtime bottleneck.
- ✓Strong enterprise validation via Mercedes-Benz and GXO Logistics partnerships.
Core Strategic Focus
Expanding European and North American automotive manufacturing trials and logistics kitting pilots.
Road Ahead & Challenges
- •Building mass production capacity to match automotive customer order volumes.
- •Navigating brand awareness against high-profile tech giants.
Apptronik vs Key Competitors
Strategic capability matrix across platform categories, commercial readiness, and target markets
Battery Architecture
- Apptronik
- Hot-Swappable Chest Module
- Figure AI
- Integrated Internal (2.25 kWh)
- Agility Robotics
- Internal Auto-Dock / Swappable
- Tesla Optimus
- Integrated Internal (2.3 kWh)
Max Payload
- Apptronik
- 25 kg (55 lbs)
- Figure AI
- 20 kg (44 lbs)
- Agility Robotics
- 16 kg (35 lbs)
- Tesla Optimus
- 20 kg (44 lbs)
Mounting Modularity
- Apptronik
- Bipedal Legs / Wheeled Base / Fixed Pedestal
- Figure AI
- Bipedal Legs Only
- Agility Robotics
- Bipedal Legs Only
- Tesla Optimus
- Bipedal Legs Only
Primary OEM Partner
- Apptronik
- Mercedes-Benz
- Figure AI
- BMW Group
- Agility Robotics
- Amazon / GXO
- Tesla Optimus
- Internal Tesla Gigafactories
| Strategic Dimension | Apptronik(Current) | Figure AI | Agility Robotics | Tesla Optimus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Architecture | Hot-Swappable Chest Module | Integrated Internal (2.25 kWh) | Internal Auto-Dock / Swappable | Integrated Internal (2.3 kWh) |
| Max Payload | 25 kg (55 lbs) | 20 kg (44 lbs) | 16 kg (35 lbs) | 20 kg (44 lbs) |
| Mounting Modularity | Bipedal Legs / Wheeled Base / Fixed Pedestal | Bipedal Legs Only | Bipedal Legs Only | Bipedal Legs Only |
| Primary OEM Partner | Mercedes-Benz | BMW Group | Amazon / GXO | Internal Tesla Gigafactories |
Corporate Ecosystem & Ownership Structure
Parent company relationships, historical acquisitions, and global operating facilities
B Capital
Co-led Apptronik's $350 million Series A in February 2025.
Ownership & Acquisition History
Co-led Apptronik's $350 million Series A in February 2025.
Co-led the February 2025 Series A and backed Apptronik from its early days.
Participated in the February 2025 Series A.
Invested in Apptronik in 2025 and pilots Apollo in its plants.
Global Facilities & Operating Hubs
Apptronik Headquarters
HQAustin, United States
Articles & Industry News
Showing 4 recent articles and news updates about Apptronik
Google's Gemini 4 Argon Watches a Human Play Cornhole, Then Teaches Apptronik's Apollo to Score
News about Apollo
Apptronik’s Apollo 2 targets teleoperation-first humanoid work as industrial pilots expand
News about Apollo 2
Apptronik Secures $350M Google-Led Funding for Apollo Humanoids
News about Apollo
Apollo Revolutionizes Robotics with Human-Like Precision
News about Apollo
Frequently Asked Questions
8 AnswersVerified answers, company specifications, and deployment details about Apptronik
What is Apptronik?
Apptronik is a robotics company in Austin, Texas, that makes Apollo, a general-purpose humanoid robot for manufacturing and logistics. It was founded in 2016 out of the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas at Austin.
What is the Apptronik Apollo robot?
Apollo is Apptronik's humanoid robot. It stands about 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) tall, weighs about 73 kg (160 lb) and can lift about 25 kg (55 lb), and is designed for tasks such as moving totes, delivering kits of parts and inspecting components.
What is Apollo doing at Mercedes-Benz?
In March 2024 Apptronik and Mercedes-Benz signed a commercial agreement to pilot Apollo in Mercedes-Benz factories, delivering assembly kits and totes of parts and inspecting components. Mercedes-Benz later invested in Apptronik.
What is Apptronik's partnership with Google DeepMind?
In December 2024 Apptronik partnered with the Google DeepMind robotics team to combine DeepMind's AI, including Gemini-based models, with Apptronik's humanoid hardware.
What is the connection between Apptronik and NASA?
Before Apollo, Apptronik's team designed more than ten robots, including extensive work on NASA's Valkyrie humanoid at the University of Texas at Austin.
How much funding has Apptronik raised?
Apptronik raised a US$350 million Series A in February 2025, led by B Capital and Capital Factory with Google taking part, and extended it to US$403 million in March 2025 with investors including Mercedes-Benz, Japan Post Capital and ARK Invest.
How much can Apollo lift?
Apollo can lift about 25 kg, or 55 lb, which suits handling totes, kits of parts and components in factories and warehouses such as Mercedes-Benz plants.
How much does the Apollo robot cost?
Apptronik has not published a price for Apollo. It works with industrial customers such as Mercedes-Benz, so pricing is arranged directly with the company.
Verified Data & Editorial Assurance
Compiled from verified corporate filings, official Apptronik datasheets, and robotics engineering registries. Information has been verified against official manufacturer documentation. For commercial procurement or proprietary integrations, contact the manufacturer directly.