You knew this was going to happen. You have no doubt heard about staff shortages in factories. And guess what? The solution seems to be robots.
At Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing in Hungary, they swapped some of their human workers for humanoid robots right there in the factory. These futuristic robots are produced by Apptronik, a company based in Texas.
Mercedes-Benz and Apptronik have teamed up to explore how these robots can help their human counterparts. The goal? To address staffing challenges during the manufacturing process.
Apollo, the humanoid robot from a Mercedes-Benz factory. (Apptronik)
The humanoid robot coworker
Humanoid robots are called apollo. Standing 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds, Apollo reflects the proportions of a human worker. His mission from him? Collaborate seamlessly with your human counterparts while tackling physically demanding tasks.
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The Apollo robot works in a Mercedes-Benz factory. (Apptronik)
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The strength and agility of the robot.
Apollo’s powerful arms can lift up to 55 pounds at a time, making it a valuable asset in an assembly line environment. Its interchangeable battery guarantees a duration of approximately four hours per pack, enough to keep it running during a productive shift.
Apollo, the humanoid robot, works in a Mercedes-Benz factory. (Apptronik)
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Is the robot safe?
Apollo’s unique force control architecture allows it to operate safely alongside humans. Think of it as a collaborative robot, not an industrial giant. There is no need to lock sections of the factory; Apollo integrates perfectly into existing spaces.
The Apollo robot works on a car in a Mercedes-Benz factory. (Apptronik)
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Robot applications in manufacturing facilities
Apollo’s first task? Logistics. It transports parts to the production line, ensuring workers have what they need to assemble vehicles. So, for example, Apollo delivers assembly kits and at the same time inspects the components. Later in the process, Apollo takes on another critical role: delivering containers of equipped parts. These carefully organized containers contain everything needed for specific assembly steps.
The Apollo robot in a Mercedes-Benz factory. (Apptronik)
How the robot is bridging the labor gap
Mercedes-Benz faces a common challenge: finding reliable workers for physically demanding, repetitive and boring tasks. That’s where Apollo comes in and closes the gap. The company says these robots allow them to automate tasks and free up qualified employees to focus on higher-value work. They say it is beneficial for productivity and job satisfaction. However, it is unclear how many robots will be used in its factories.
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A close-up of Apollo, the humanoid robot, in a Mercedes-Benz factory. (Apptronik)
Robots on the assembly line
But Mercedes-Benz is not the only player in this game. Earlier this year, BMW made waves by teaming up with California-based Figure to test its robots. The star of the show? Robot 01 in the figure, currently hard at work at BMW’s American factories located in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Kurt’s Key Takeaways
Both Mercedes-Benz and BMW are still fine-tuning their approach and figuring out how best to take advantage of these robots. The goal? Automate those complicated, insecure or downright tedious tasks that have traditionally fallen on human shoulders. From delivering and inspecting parts to working alongside skilled workers, these robots are poised to revolutionize the assembly line.
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Is this a step in the right direction, or is it just another way to replace human jobs with automation, which could lead to job displacement? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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