Humanoid Robots Joining Mercedes' Assembly Line

Mercedes-Benz is initiating a pilot project to integrate humanoid robots into its assembly lines as part of its efforts to boost automation. The German manufacturer introduced Apollo, a white humanoid robot, during a presentation at its Berlin facility.

Apollo, which resembles an animated stick figure, addressed journalists, made precise movements, and assembled a part before giving the thumbs up signifying accomplishment. If the pilot project is successful, these robots may start working alongside humans as early as 2029 or 2030.
“By 2030, we will see at least some humanoid robots in production,” said Jörg Burzer, head of production at Mercedes-Benz. In order to develop the technology, Mercedes invested several tens of millions of euros in Apptronik, a humanoid robotics firm that was founded under the University of Texas' Human Centred Robotics Lab.

In spring of last year, Mercedes announced its plan to integrate Apollo into its facilities, but did not disclose the specific location. The company has now revealed that the Mercedes facility in Berlin-Marienfelde will be the first to deploy the bipedal robot.

The automaker aims to reduce human error and automate logistics tasks by utilizing robots, which could initially be deployed in the "triage zone," where parts are stored before reaching the assembly line. This area is known for being prone to human error.

Mercedes will continue to train Apollo in an effort to equip the robot with the skills necessary to perform more autonomous tasks. It is likely that this approach will be expanded to other facilities in the near future.
The introduction of these devices is part of a larger trend of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) that is rapidly taking over the automotive industry. Compared to the traditional, fixed robots currently used for tasks such as welding, humanoid robots can adapt better to changing manufacturing requirements.

Other car manufacturers, including Honda, Hyundai, and BMW, are also experimenting with humanoid robots for difficult and repetitive tasks but have not yet deployed them on a large scale. Even Tesla, which announced that its Optimus robot would be in factories as early as 2023, has not provided any updates.