Mercedes Benz started to integrate humanoid robots in one of its factories to carry out demanding or boring tasks. The German giant signed an agreement with Apptronik, a well-known robot manufacturer, who will provide multiple units of its Apollo model for a pilot test at the Hungarian plant.
Apollo, a friendly-looking bipedal robot, will deliver parts to the production line for employees to carry out the assembly. Mercedes-Benz will also use it to deliver equipped parts containers later. The robot can carry loads of up to 25 kilograms and has functions that allow it to adapt to its environment.
According to a release from Apptronik, the incorporation of humanoid robots into factories would help Mercedes-Benz, since they would not need to redesign the spaces. Apollo can move in environments planned for humans and It has sensors to avoid obstacles and avoid impacts. The robot is controlled through software where the tasks to be performed are designated, which can be executed from a computer or mobile device.
The partnership between Apptronik and Mercedes-Benz aims to automate the production chain. Jeff Cárdenas, CEO of the robotics company, stated that Mercedes-Benz will use Apollo in low-skilled, physically demanding manual tasks. Like Figure and his robot powered by artificial intelligence, the future goal is for cyborgs take care of boring or boring activities so that humans “live happier”.
In the case of Mercedes-Benz, the manufacturer chose its Hungarian factory to carry out the test. The decision is due to two reasons: shortage of reliable labor and more accessible unions. The company assured that robots will not take away jobs from human workers.
Robots won't replace Mercedes-Benz workers (for now)
Although automation has been around for decades, Apptronik and Figure robots represent a paradigm shift. Apollo and Figure 01 have been designed to integrate into factories and work alongside humans. These are collaborative robots capable of performing repetitive tasks through prior programming or artificial intelligence.
In the case of Apollothe robot has characteristics of an average worker: He is 1.72 m tall and weighs 72 kilogramss. Apptronik comments that it was designed to operate in industrial spaces and has a force control architecture that maintains safe operation around people. Unlike Figure 01 — which looks more like a Terminator — Apollo has a friendlier appearance to gain staff approval.
“We will have to convince the workers and the management,” said Jörg Burzer, head of production at Mercedes-Benz. “To build the most desirable cars, we continually evolve the future of automobile production: advances in robotics and artificial intelligence also open new opportunities for us.”
Burzer, who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Mercedes-Benz Group, added that the agreement will allow them explore the possibilities of robotics to support workers. “We want to understand the potential that both robotics and automotive manufacturing have to fill job gaps in areas such as low-skilled, repetitive and physically demanding work,” she said.
Mercedes-Benz is not the only one betting on humanoid robots. A few months ago, BMW signed an agreement with Figure to integrate its robots into the automotive production chain. After an analysis phase, the Figure 01s will work with the employees of the factory in South Carolina, United States.