Apptronik opens Austin Robot Park, unveils Apollo 2 humanoid robot

Google‑backed robotics startup Apptronik inaugurated a 90,000‑square‑foot training facility, called Robot Park, in Austin, Texas. The hub houses fleets of Apollo 2 humanoid robots that perform logistics, manufacturing and retail tasks while sensors record every motion, generating large‑scale real‑world data for artificial‑intelligence models. The data feeds Google DeepMind’s Gemini Robotics platform under a research partnership.

CEO Jeff Cardenas described the centre as a “factory that produces robots, we also have a factory that produces data.” He said Apptronik has built “hundreds” of Apollo 2 units, available in both bipedal and wheeled configurations, and that pilot projects will continue through 2026 with commercial production expected from 2027 onward. The company raised $520 million in a February funding round that valued it at about $5 billion, with investors including Google and Mercedes‑Benz.

The facility aims to accelerate the move from pilot deployments to full‑scale industrial use of humanoid robots, positioning Apptronik as a key player in the emerging data‑driven robotics market.