Pilot season has officially begun in the world of humanoid robotics. Last year, Amazon began testing Agility's Digit robots at some fulfillment centers, and in January, Figure announced a deal with BMW. Apptronik is currently working on that effort, courtesy of a partnership with Mercedes-Benz.
According to the Austin-based robotics startup, “As part of the agreement, Uptronik and Mercedes-Benz will work together to identify areas of application for advanced robotics in Mercedes-Benz manufacturing.” As is customary for this type of transaction, specific numbers were not disclosed. Generally, the number of actual systems included in the pilot is fairly small, which is not surprising given the nascent nature of the technology.
Still, these deals are considered win-win. Apptronik could show clear interest from a major automaker, while Mercedes is showing both its customers and shareholders that it is looking to the future. What happens next is what really matters. If the pilot goes well and automakers place large-scale orders, it would be a huge blow to Apptronik and the industry as a whole.
Humanoids have been attracting a lot of attention from investors lately, as Figure recently raised an impressive $675 million in funding. The next few years will be critical for these companies' continued success, requiring them to demonstrate meaningful ROI.
As for what the robots actually do on the manufacturing floor, co-founder and CEO Jeff Cardenas said in a release: Other organizations will likely do similar things in the coming months and years. ”
“Low skill” refers to the level of workers these systems replace. My guess is that it's a repetitive and physically taxing task because it involves moving a lot of stuff from point A to point B, but it's essential and (relatively) easy to automate. Another important part of “low skills” may also be an attempt to nip criticism of replacing human workers in the bud. Humanoids are still a long way from being able to do that in any meaningful way.
Apptronik is a University of Austin spinout company best known for its work on NASA's Valkyrie humanoid robot.