Apptronik and TI: Building innovative humanoids for the future

In 2023, Apptronik announced upgrades to their humanoid robot, Apollo. As part of that development, Apptronik pulled TI in as a collaborator to support its robot’s need for safe and efficient movement. Apollo utilizes Apptronik’s custom linear and rotary actuators, which will be improved by TI’s functional safety compliance, motor control and power management. Together, Apptronik and TI can meet their goal of enabling a dexterous humanoid robot that can operate safely and effectively in close proximity with people.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with TI as part of our commitment to building safe humanoid robots. Texas Instruments’ longstanding dedication to safety in product design is a crucial component in enabling humanoids to work seamlessly alongside people,” said Parker Conroy, director of product at Apptronik.

Humanoids are emerging as a versatile and viable way to support industries such as manufacturing and logistics. These robots resemble humans in shape and function; they’re equipped with sensors, actuators (mechanical “muscles”) and advanced software that enable them to recognize objects and people; interact with their environment; and perform tasks such as walking, lifting, bending, rotating and gripping.

Apollo is Apptronik’s first commercial humanoid robot, and the company’s considerations for performance and safety require a reliable technology stack.

“Humanoids like Apollo can solve a lot of challenges for today’s modern workforce by supplementing and supporting workers, and TI is continually developing the supporting technologies needed,” said Errol Leon, systems manager for robotics at TI.

One prominent challenge of building a successful humanoid robot is developing human-like movement and dexterity. In order to achieve this, Apptronik incorporated TI’s motor-control technologies. TI microcontrollers and gate drivers, as well as analog parts deliver precise, safe and power-efficient motor control. Since Apollo has a large number of motors working together in a compact, battery-powered application, these considerations are necessary for its function.

With TI motor-control technology, Apollo can execute accurate, precise and efficient movements coordinated over numerous motors and joints. This enables humanoid robots to walk on two legs with balance and stability, or to perform manipulative tasks such as grasping objects of different sizes and shapes.

Humanoids are still emerging and developing as viable solutions in different industries; because of this, no official safety standard has been published for this type of robot. Nonetheless, safety is a crucial design challenge when integrating a humanoid robot into a busy environment with humans, and Apptronik prioritizes safety and is helping to influence and maintain safety standards, specifically for humanoid robots.

Apollo uses TI technology that has been functional safety-certified to Technischer Überwachungsverein (TÜV SÜD) by working closely with TI on hardware component selection and functional safety methodologies. TI provides innovative and reliable parts to help Apptronik prepare for any upcoming system-level functional safety certifications specific to humanoid robots. TI also provides component-level documentation such as functional safety failure-in-time rate and failure modes, effects and diagnostics analysis.

“In order to effectively deploy humanoids in public-facing environments, we believe it’s essential to partner with industry leaders like TI in developing robust safety methodologies for future iterations of Apollo and other related projects,” Conroy said.

Outfitted with TI motor-control solutions and safety-certified technology, Apollo can work in warehouses and factories to complete repetitive and labor-intensive activities such as each picking, moving materials, delivering totes of kitted parts, and bringing parts to staff on the production line. Humanoid robots can improve safety, increase efficiency, and give human workers an opportunity to perform higher-value tasks that are less physically demanding.

Humanoid robots are currently most visible in manufacturing and logistics, and excel in performing repetitive and/or physically demanding tasks. As Apollo gains increased dexterity and the ability to perform more complex actions, it has the potential to influence several more industries. In the long term, humanoid robots like Apollo have the potential to make a positive impact in settings such as retail, medical, elder care or the home.

“Apptronik and TI are continuing to collaborate on enhanced safety methodologies and new complex motor-control capabilities, which will continue to help strengthen the versatility of these robots,” said Conroy.

Apptronik is a human-centered robotics company developing AI-powered humanoid robots. Their goal is to create human helpers to support humanity in every facet of life. Apptronik’s robot, Apollo, is designed to collaborate thoughtfully with humans—initially in critical industries such as manufacturing and logistics, with future applications in healthcare, the home, and beyond. Apollo is the culmination of nearly a decade of development, drawing on Apptronik’s extensive work on 15 previous robots, including NASA’s Valkyrie robot. Apptronik started out of the Human Centered Robotics Lab at the University of Texas at Austin and has 150 employees.

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