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New Humanoid Robots From Mercedes-Benz Come Into Action and Are Replacing Humans in Heavy Jobs. Initiative Promises to Prevent Injuries to Human Workers Performing Manual Labor.
Replacing humans in heavy jobs, Mercedes-Benz has officially employed humanoid robots to perform manual tasks on its assembly line. The Apollo robot from Apptronik will start by performing simple tasks such as fetching and carrying objects, helping to alleviate the load for its human partners.
Announced on March 15, the humanoid robots from Mercedes-Benz, which may end up replacing humans, will also be used to carry out other low-skill tasks such as basic assembly.
According to the company, this will free human workers to focus on more important tasks and reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries and other health and safety problems related to manual tasks. Jeff Cardenas, CEO of Apptronik, said we will see other organizations replicate the idea of humanoid robots replacing humans in the coming months and years.
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Mercedes-Benz Humanoid Robots Can Lift Up to 25 kg Each
The Mercedes-Benz model, the Apollo robot, weighs 72 kg and measures 1.77 m tall. The current design allows it to lift around 25 kg and can operate for about 4 hours on a single battery charge. As a humanoid model, it obviously has two arms and two legs, as well as sensors that simulate human eyes.
The humanoid robots from Mercedes-Benz also have a screen on their chest that displays various types of information, including what appears to be company logos. The robot’s face is another LED screen that can display digitized “emotions” such as a smiling face, along with icons or information like the status of the remaining battery charge.
New Humanoid Robot From Mercedes-Benz Has Several Functionalities
Although battery-powered, the robot replacing humans cannot be charged by a cable, just like a smartphone. However, its batteries can be quickly swapped out, thus reducing downtime when the charge runs out. The humanoid robots from Mercedes-Benz can operate as a mobile unit using their legs or, if the task requires, can have their torso mounted on a metal pole for stationary tasks.
The Apollo also features a sophisticated safety mechanism that halts it when it detects an object or a person moving within its impact zone. The robot replacing humans has software that enables remote control and, according to the company’s website, can even be operated using a device similar to a game controller.
Another interesting fact is Apollo’s computing power, which allows leading Artificial Intelligence companies to choose use cases different from those defined by Apptronik. Initially, this could mean that Mercedes-Benz could use Apollo to inspect vehicle parts, bring parts to the assembly line for human workers, and deliver parts in kits, meaning that whoever hires the robot chooses what it will work on.
Other Companies Have Also Adopted the Initiative
According to board member of the Mercedes-Benz Group, Jorg Burzer, who oversees production and quality at the automaker, Mercedes-Benz is exploring new possibilities using robotics to support the skilled human workforce in manufacturing.
According to Burzer, the top-tier workers are needed to master the complexity of building these wonderful vehicles. It is worth mentioning that the humanoid robots from Mercedes-Benz are not the only ones currently in existence. Amazon revealed last year the addition of Digit, a robot designed to optimize the package sorting process at the company’s distribution centers.
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