Apptronik, GXO Plan Rollout of 1,000 Humanoids Across N.America

GREENWICH, Conn. -- U.S.-based robot-maker Apptronik and GXO Logistics plan to scale-up testing of its Apollo robots and possibly deploy up to 1,000 units over the next four years.

The companies signed a letter of intent that will see GXO test and possibly deploy the robots in 2027, with an initial roll-out scheduled for the end of that year, GXO said Nov. 12. Deployment will be contingent on the robots meeting certain agreed productivity, safety and operational parameters.

Under the agreement, Apollo robots will be tested for applications such as picking items, transporting boxes and storage totes, packaging and sorting of items.

In addition, a robotics-as-a-service business model will be used whereby GXO will acquire robots in a service capacity and not outright purchase. Financial terms have not been made available.

The two companies started working together in 2024. Apollo was involved in a U.S. warehouse pilot test for autonomous picking of small consumer goods earlier this year, according to GXO.

The partners have also examined over 50 logistics procedures at the Robot Park training facility of Apptronik, gathering information and conducting autonomous operations. No data regarding productivity and efficiency during these tests has been shared.

GXO did not share information on the number of Apollo robots in the first deployment and whether there were any purchase obligations within the proposed agreement.

Th e company is cooperating with Agility Robotics, whose humanoid robots Digit are used for carrying storage totes in a Georgia warehouse through a commercial agreement since 2024. The logistics company is planning to use Digit in North Carolina and Tennessee warehouses in early 2027.