Gemini Robotics 2 Brings Whole-Body Control to Apollo 2

Google DeepMind has launched Gemini Robotics 2, extending its robotics stack from upper-body tabletop tasks to whole-body humanoid control. The new vision-language-action model controls Apptronik’s Apollo 2 from feet to fingertips, combining walking, crouching, reaching and manipulation.

Gemini Robotics 2 combines walking, balance, posture and manipulation in one action policy. Earlier releases focused on manipulation, transfer between robot bodies and local adaptation. Source

The same checkpoint was tested across Apollo 2 with two hand systems and a Franka Duo. Google’s release says it can move between whole-body tasks, multifinger dexterity and conventional gripper work without changing the core model.

The update adds Gemini Robotics ER 2 for multi-step reasoning, self-correction and multi-robot collaboration. Gemini Robotics On-Device 2 is designed to run locally and adapt to new embodiments in a few hours, typically with fewer than 200 examples.

Google reports a 32% success rate for a dustpan task and 92% for unscrewing a bulb, while also identifying movement speed as a continuing limitation.

Fleets of Apollo 2 robots collect real-world task data at Apptronik’s Robot Park in Austin, at Google DeepMind and at customer sites including Mercedes-Benz and GXO.

Apptronik has raised more than $935 million to commercialise Apollo. Google supplies Gemini, while Apptronik supplies robot hardware and operating data. Source

Have a robotics update Korthos should review? Send news, deployments, product releases, funding rounds, research, or media to [email protected] or reach out on X at @agkorthos.