Apptronik
The Austin company developing Apollo, with roots in university robotics and a focus on learning industrial work.38
Apptronik develops Apollo, a humanoid platform for work in places built around people. Its current Apollo 2 robots help gather the physical experience used to train future systems, including through a partnership with Google DeepMind. The company's story starts in a University of Texas lab and now runs through factories, logistics sites and its Robot Park facility in Austin.38
Visit Apptronik ↗A company built from several kinds of robot
Apptronik dates its founding to 2016 and traces its roots to UT Austin’s Human Centered Robotics Lab. Co-founder and chief executive Jeff Cardenas brought experience commercializing university technology. Co-founder Nick Paine, now chief technology officer, worked on actuators and control systems for NASA’s Valkyrie robot. The university also identifies Luis Sentis as a co-founder.3456
Apptronik’s earlier robot projects included Draco, Astra and Scorpio. It unveiled the original Apollo in August 2023, with manufacturing and logistics as its initial focus.137
On March 18, 2024, Apptronik identified Jetson AGX Orin and Orin NX modules inside Apollo. The same announcement described GR00T integration and a GTC task demonstration. GR00T names the robot-learning platform; the Orin modules are the onboard hardware. This account does not establish Apollo 2 or Apollo 3's configuration or a direct purchasing contract.14
Apptronik and Mercedes-Benz announced an Apollo manufacturing-facility pilot agreement on March 15, 2024. Mercedes-Benz also participated in Apptronik's March 18, 2025 Series A close. Apptronik's June 2026 Apollo 2 account includes Mercedes sites in a data-collection network that combines remote operation and autonomous execution. The pilot, financing and training work are distinct roles.81516
Apollo 2 is learning for the next commercial system
In June 2026, Apptronik identified Apollo 2 as its current platform and unveiled its expanded Robot Park operation. Apollo 2 comes on legs or a wheeled base. The company describes it as a data-collection and training machine, combining remote human operation, autonomous tasks and computer simulation to improve robot intelligence with Google DeepMind.8
Mercedes-Benz and GXO appear in the June announcement as customer sites contributing to the data-collection network. Apptronik describes Apollo 3 as the next commercial product to benefit from this work. Apollo 2’s role is to supply practical experience for that development, including work directed by human operators.8
Apptronik and Jabil announced a manufacturing partnership and pilot in February 2025, covering both building Apollo units and validating them in Jabil’s operations. That connects two practical challenges: developing a useful robot and preparing to produce it in greater numbers.9
Products and their roles
Apollo is a family of hardware and software. The current training platform and the commercial successor have different roles.812
Apollo 2
Apptronik’s current platform for data collection and training, with bipedal and wheeled configurations.8
Apollo 3
The next-generation commercial product described in the June 2026 Robot Park announcement. Its development draws on Apollo 2’s training work; the announcement does not establish a delivery date.8
Artemis
The robot software within the Apollo platform.12
Fleet Connect
The fleet-operations tools accompanying Apollo.12
Begin with the generation and the task
A business considering Apollo needs the exact generation and configuration in the proposal. Then come the job it will perform, the amount of operator help, the data agreement and the service commitment. Apollo’s hardware, Artemis software and Fleet Connect tools form parts of that wider operating arrangement.812
Apptronik includes healthcare and home uses in its longer-term plans. For a family following that progress, the useful distinction is between Apollo 2’s industrial training role and what a future commercial product will actually offer. Look for a demonstration of the household task that matters to you, including the assistance and setup it needs.18
Read more on Robots in the House
Apollo product profile
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Sources and notes
- Apptronik home
Company positioning: manufacturing and logistics first, with healthcare and home uses described as future applications. Source checked 2026-10-25.
- Apptronik terms
Apptronik, Inc. is identified as the website operator.
- Apollo original unveiling
August 23, 2023 Apollo unveiling. Apptronik dates its founding to 2016; a UT department post instead gives 2015. The profile attributes 2016 to the company and retains the discrepancy. Source checked 2026-10-25.
- UT Austin department historical post
UT Austin department post dates co-founding to 2015 and the first grant to 2016. This differs from the company’s 2016 founding account. Source checked 2026-10-25.
- Apptronik leadership
Company biographies for co-founders Jeff Cardenas and Nick Paine and their current leadership roles. Source checked 2026-10-25.
- UT Austin HCRL spinout
University lab account identifying Luis Sentis and Nick Paine as co-founders. The profile names selected verified co-founders. Source checked 2026-10-25.
- Apptronik robot lineage
Company engineering history, including Draco, Astra, Scorpio and Apollo 1. Source checked 2026-10-25.
- Robot Park and Apollo 2 announcement
June 30, 2026 account of Apollo 2 training and data collection, Robot Park and the planned Apollo 3 commercial successor. Source checked 2026-10-25, 2026-10-26.
- Apptronik and Jabil pilot
February 25, 2025 Jabil manufacturing partnership and validation pilot announcement. Source checked 2026-10-25.
- Forge: Apptronik IPO status
Secondary private-market intermediary reports private-company status. No share price or valuation is used.
- Apptronik February 2026 financing
February 11, 2026 financing announcement. The initial round and extension are components of the cumulative Series A; “more than” and “nearly” retain the company’s rounded wording. Source checked 2026-10-25.
- Apollo 2 product page
Apollo platform description covering the robot, Artemis software and Fleet Connect. Source checked 2026-10-25.
- UT Austin: Countdown to Commercialization
UT Austin article dates the spinout to 2016, corroborating the company’s account while the department’s 2015 post remains an alternative.
- Apptronik and NVIDIA: March 18, 2024 Apollo configuration
Dated account of Orin onboard modules and separate GR00T software/demo work, checked October 26, 2026. It does not identify Apollo 2/3 hardware or direct procurement terms. Source checked 2026-10-26.
- Apptronik Series A participants
Investment separate from factory pilot; no ownership percentage used. Source checked 2026-10-26.
- Apptronik Mercedes-Benz pilot agreement
Customer pilot and application exploration; Mercedes is not established as a component supplier. Source checked 2026-10-26.
We use official disclosures and other identified sources. Company claims are attributed; these profiles do not represent hands-on product testing. Our editorial and AI-use policy.
