Shaping the Future: Apptronik CEO Jeff Cardenas and the Apollo Humanoid
Aug 23, 2023
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Apptronik CEO Jeff Cardenas discusses the development of legged robotics and the launch of the company's first commercial humanoid robot, Apollo. They also explore the market potential and demand for humanoid robots in the logistics industry, highlighting the challenges and opportunities. The discussion emphasizes the performance, affordability, and unique design of the Apollo humanoid robot.
Apptronik has developed a commercial humanoid robot named Apollo for material handling tasks in warehouses.
Humanoid robots provide unique automation solutions for industries and businesses, opening up new opportunities.
There is a significant market potential for humanoid robots in the logistics and material handling sector, with a strong need for automation solutions.
Deep dives
Overview of Apptronic and Apollo Humanoid
Apptronic is a robotics company that originated from the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas at Austin. They have been working on building a capable and affordable humanoid robot for commercial use. Their latest humanoid robot, Apollo, is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds. It has a lifting capacity of 55 pounds and a swappable battery that allows for a four-hour runtime. Apollo is designed for material handling and logistics tasks, targeting tasks such as case or box handling in warehouses. While Apollo initially has a one-degree-of-freedom gripper, it is designed to eventually have more dexterous manipulation capabilities as technology advances. The potential market size for humanoid robots in logistics and material handling is significant, with billions of cases being moved globally. Apptronic already has signed purchase orders and pilots with major companies in logistics, manufacturing, and retail sectors.
Importance of Humanoids in Automation
Humanoid robots, like Apollo, provide unique solutions and opportunities in automation. They have the potential to solve challenges that traditional automation systems face. Humanoids offer entry points for businesses and industries that previously couldn't invest in automation due to contracts or other limitations. For example, third-party logistics companies can leverage humanoids as a flexible and mobile robotic solution, which aligns with their business models and contractual requirements. The potential applications for humanoid robots expand beyond material handling, with manufacturers and retailers also recognizing the value of humanoids. The demand for humanoids in the market is significant, and although there are still technological challenges to overcome, there is a growing understanding that humanoids will be an integral part of the future of automation.
Market Potential and Customer Base
The market potential for humanoid robots is vast, particularly in the logistics and material handling sector. There are currently around 675,000 unfilled logistics jobs in the US, indicating a strong need for automation solutions. Moreover, there are about 200 billion cases that need to be picked globally by 2025. Apptronic's approach with Apollo aims to address these demands and fulfill initial tasks such as case handling and box moving. By starting with these tasks, humanoid robots can prove their capabilities, secure customers, and generate positive ROI. Apptronic already has signed purchase orders and pilot agreements with major players in logistics, manufacturing, and retail, including third-party logistics companies, manufacturers, and retailers. The potential customer base for humanoid robots extends to various industries and businesses that seek automation solutions.
The Importance of Versatile Robots and Domestic Manufacturing
The podcast episode discusses the importance of versatile robots and domestic manufacturing in the robotics industry. It highlights the founders' belief that robots needed to become more versatile, with a focus on mobile manipulation as the next big frontier. They also emphasized the need for domestic manufacturers in the US to build the required robots as the industry matured. The founders were determined to protect their vision and avoid compromising it, even if it meant taking on longer development timelines and securing government funding to prove the viability of the technology.
The Rise and Potential of Humanoid Robots
The podcast delves into the growing interest in humanoid robots and the reasons behind their increased development and commercialization. It explores the market demand for multi-purpose and versatile systems that can easily integrate into existing workflows. Humanoids offer the potential for more dexterous manipulations, bridging the gap between specialized robots and the capabilities required by industries. The episode also draws an analogy with the development of personal computers, highlighting how humanoid robots could become the breakthrough moment in robotics and revolutionize various sectors.
The humanoid robot market is quickly maturing. Our guest this week is Apptronik CEO and cofounder Jeff Cardenas. He tells the in-depth story about the development of legged robotics and humanoids at Apptronik and the launch of the company's first commercial humanoid robot, Apollo.
With the launch of Apollo, Apptronik became one of the early innovators in the race to create a general-purpose humanoid robot. It turns out that the company has a rich history in legged robotics, having worked on the first generation of NASA Valkyrie robot, and multiple generations of exoskeletons since its founding in 2015.
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