This $5.5 billion robotics startup built a school for humanoids (www.businessinsider.com)

Apptronik, a Texas-based robotics startup valued at over $5.5 billion, has launched a facility dubbed "Robot Park" in Austin where its humanoid robots, Apollo, can practice essential tasks such as sorting and loading items. This 90,000-square-foot training ground aims to address a significant challenge in robotics: the lack of sufficient real-world training data. By allowing robots to be remotely controlled and observed during practice, Apptronik collects valuable data to enhance the AI models that power its humanoids. This initiative signals a shift towards more practical uses of robots in factories and homes. Founded in 2016 from the University of Texas, Apptronik has progressed from building robot parts to developing general-purpose humanoids. The company’s Apollo robots are already being utilized by investors like Mercedes and DeepMind for various tasks and the latest iteration, Apollo 2, features significant upgrades like improved batteries and sensors. Apptronik envisions a future where humandoids become integral to everyday operations, positioning the humanoid robotics market in a developmental phase akin to the early evolution of personal computing. The establishment of additional Robot Parks worldwide is part of Apptronik’s goal to democratize access to this technology, fostering public engagement and innovation in the field.