Humanoid Robots Put to Work at the Mercedes Factory in Kecskemét

Mercedes is testing the use of humanoid robots to alleviate labor shortages and make better use of existing staff. Apollo robots, developed by robotics company Apptronik, have started work at the Mercedes factory in Kecskemét (central Hungary), where they are performing monotonous and physically demanding tasks requiring low skills, but for the time being only on a trial basis, writes Világgazdaság.

For the low-skilled, monotonous tasks, Mercedes might use humanoid robots. The car manufacturer is testing Apptronik’s machine to see if it can deliver parts to production lines, supporting the human workforce.

The trial is taking place at the factory in Kecskemét, Hungary.

The humanoid robot from robotics company Apptronik, called Apollo has been put to work at the factory as an experiment. The robot is a 160-kilogram, bipedal humanoid robot specifically designed to participate in factory production, reports The Verge.

At the Mercedes factory, Apollo’s current job is to deliver parts to the production lines for the workers. The robot would also be important in Kecskemét because Mercedes says there has been a labor shortage at the Hungarian plant for years.

This is a new frontier and we want to understand the potential both for robotics and automotive manufacturing to fill labor gaps in areas such as low skill, repetitive and physically demanding work, and to free up our highly skilled team members on the line to build the world’s most desirable cars,”

said Mercedes’ production chief Jörg Burzer.

We are ecstatic to be collaborating with @MercedesBenz to empower staff in its manufacturing facilities with state-of-the-art technology that automates physically demanding, repetitive and dull tasks that people don’t want to do. Stay tuned, this is just the beginning. pic.twitter.com/jIXj8uGTKh

— Apptronik (@Apptronik) March 15, 2024

According to Apptronik, their robots could be used to automate vehicle production without having to rebuild existing plants. Apollo is almost 173 centimeters tall and can lift roughly 25 kilograms. The robot has been designed to have a human-like physique and a “friendly” face to inspire confidence in workers. No details or figures were given about the collaboration between Mercedes and Apptronik. It is also not known how many Apollo robots have been put into operation in Kecskemét.

Via Világgazdaság, The Verge; Featured image: X/Apptronik