Physical labor is being done by someone! Mercedes-Benz factory pilot introduces humanoid robots.

The pilot season in the field of humanoid robots has officially begun. Following Amazon's testing of Agility's Digit robot in some logistics centers last year, and Figure's partnership with BMW in January this year, humanoid robot startup Apptronik has recently joined the fray by collaborating with Mercedes-Benz.

According to the agreement, Apptronik will work with Mercedes-Benz to determine the application scenarios of the highly intelligent robot "Apollo" in the latter's manufacturing business. Such agreements usually keep specific details confidential, and the two parties have not disclosed the specific scale and amount of the pilot project. Generally, in the early stages, only a small number of robot systems will be deployed.

However, this collaboration is significant for both companies. For Apptronik, it signifies endorsement from a leading enterprise in the automotive manufacturing industry; and for Mercedes-Benz, it sends a signal to customers and shareholders about the company's commitment to keeping up with future technological trends.

What truly matters is whether these pilot projects can succeed. Once they secure large-scale orders from automakers, it will undoubtedly be a major breakthrough for Apptronik and even the entire humanoid robot industry.

Recently, humanoid robot companies have been favored by capital, with Figure recently completing a financing round of up to $675 million. In the coming years, these companies will face critical tests to prove that humanoid robots indeed offer substantial return on investment.

As for the specific tasks these robots will undertake in manufacturing workshops, Jeff Cardenas, co-founder and CEO of Apptronik, stated:

Mercedes plans to use robots and our Apollo system to automate some low-skilled, physically demanding manual labor. This will be a typical use case widely replicated by other companies in the coming months and years.

Reports indicate that the "Apollo" robot to be deployed in Mercedes-Benz factories is 1.72 meters tall, weighing around 144 pounds, with a theoretical maximum load capacity close to 50 pounds.

Media speculates that the robot may be responsible for tasks such as moving cargo or items from point A to point B, which are repetitive and physically demanding tasks. While these tasks are basic, they are indispensable in manufacturing operations and relatively easy to automate.