# Shaping the Future: Apptronik CEO Jeff Cardenas and the Apollo Humanoid

- Show: [The Robot Report Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast)
- Published: 2023-08-23
- Length: 1h 18m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-08-23-shaping-the-future-apptronik-ceo-jeff-cardenas-and-the-apollo-humanoid
- Listen: https://soundcloud.com/robot-report-podcast/shaping-the-future-apptronik-ceo-jeff-cardenas-and-the-apollo-humanoid

## Summary

Apptronik CEO and co-founder Jeff Cardenas discusses the launch of Apollo, the company's first commercial humanoid robot, detailing its design for logistics workflows and its novel electric linear actuators. Cardenas explains Apptronik's history, including work on NASA's Valkyrie and military exoskeletons, which informed Apollo's development to achieve affordability and mass manufacturability. He highlights the strategic decision to use gross manipulation end-effectors initially to solve immediate labor shortages in logistics while maintaining a path toward full dexterity. The episode covers the market pull for general-purpose robots, the technical challenges of actuation, and safety considerations for human-robot collaboration.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-08-23-shaping-the-future-apptronik-ceo-jeff-cardenas-and-the-apollo-humanoid#t=7) Introduction: Robot Report Podcast and Robo Business Promo
- [5:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-08-23-shaping-the-future-apptronik-ceo-jeff-cardenas-and-the-apollo-humanoid#t=359) News: Cruise Robotaxi Fleet Reduction and Waymo Comparison
- [11:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-08-23-shaping-the-future-apptronik-ceo-jeff-cardenas-and-the-apollo-humanoid#t=679) News: Locust Reaches 2 Billion Picks and RAS Model
- [21:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-08-23-shaping-the-future-apptronik-ceo-jeff-cardenas-and-the-apollo-humanoid#t=1316) Apollo Overview: Specs, Actuation, and Design Choices
- [27:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-08-23-shaping-the-future-apptronik-ceo-jeff-cardenas-and-the-apollo-humanoid#t=1672) Apptronik History: NASA Valkyrie, Exoskeletons, and Funding
- [41:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-08-23-shaping-the-future-apptronik-ceo-jeff-cardenas-and-the-apollo-humanoid#t=2503) Market Drivers: Why Humanoids Are the 'PC Moment' for Robotics
- [48:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-08-23-shaping-the-future-apptronik-ceo-jeff-cardenas-and-the-apollo-humanoid#t=2920) Apollo Capabilities: Payload, Runtime, and Manipulation Strategy
- [56:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-08-23-shaping-the-future-apptronik-ceo-jeff-cardenas-and-the-apollo-humanoid#t=3406) Market Opportunity: Logistics Labor Shortages and Use Cases
- [1:03:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-08-23-shaping-the-future-apptronik-ceo-jeff-cardenas-and-the-apollo-humanoid#t=3797) Technical Deep Dive: Novel Electric Linear Actuators and IP
- [1:10:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-08-23-shaping-the-future-apptronik-ceo-jeff-cardenas-and-the-apollo-humanoid#t=4201) Safety: Force Control, Collaboration, and Fall Mitigation

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Apptronik (company)
- Apollo (product)
- NASA (company)
- Valkyrie (product)
- Locust (company)
- Cruise (company)
- Waymo (company)
- Agility Robotics (company)
- Digit (product)
- Astra (product)
- US SoCom (company)
- Talos (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Ep. 20 | Dr. Aaron Edsinger, CEO & Co-founder of Hello Robot and Former Head of Robotics at Google on Humanity in Robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2021-03-18-ep-20-dr-aaron-edsinger-ceo-co-founder-of-hello-robot-and-former-head-of-robotic) (Moore's Lobby)
- [Episode 163: Robots helping people - Aaron Edsinger](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-09-25-episode-163-robots-helping-people-aaron-edsinger) (Robot Talk)
- [191: The State of Robotics: Live From the 2024 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston, MA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-06-25-191-the-state-of-robotics-live-from-the-2024-robotics-summit-expo-in-boston-ma) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [264: Inside Automated: Asking the Right Questions about Robotics and AI with Brian Heater, Managing Editor at A3 and Host of the Automated Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-12-02-264-inside-automated-asking-the-right-questions-about-robotics-and-ai-with-brian) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [203: Humanoid Robots: Industrial Applications, Safety, and Going Beyond the Hype to Solve Real Problems Featuring Agility Robotics' Melonee Wise](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-09-17-203-humanoid-robots-industrial-applications-safety-and-going-beyond-the-hype-to) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

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