Apollo vs CL-1: Specs, Price & ROS Support Compared (2023)
Apptronik vs LimX Dynamics — independent, side-by-side analysis.
Quick Verdict
Apollo and CL-1 are closely matched across key specifications.
Apollo
Apptronik
CL-1
LimX Dynamics
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Apollo CL-1
Specifications
Target <$50,000 at scalePriceContact (research)
173 cmHeight157 cm
72.6 kgWeight—
—DOF20
25 kgPayload—
4hRuntime—
—Speed1.11 m/s
YesStairsYes
NoLiDARYes
Google DeepMind Gemini integrationComputeN/A
Pros and cons at a glance
Apollo
Pros
- High rated payload (25 kg) for industrial pick-and-place
Cons
- Still in development, no commercial availability
- Unit price not publicly disclosed (quote-on-request or enterprise-only)
- Closed software stack — no public SDK or ROS support
CL-1
Pros
- Ships with LiDAR for robust depth sensing in low-light environments
Cons
- Still in development, no commercial availability
- Unit price not publicly disclosed (quote-on-request or enterprise-only)
Frequently asked questions
How do Apollo and CL-1 compare on price?
Apollo: Target <$50,000 at scale. CL-1: Contact (research).
Which is better for ROS-based development: Apollo or CL-1?
Apollo has no ROS support; CL-1 has ROS 1 only. For research and multi-vendor robotics stacks, native ROS 2 is the strongest signal of ecosystem maturity.
Does Apollo or CL-1 use LiDAR?
CL-1 ships with LiDAR for depth sensing; Apollo does not. LiDAR adds cost and complexity but improves obstacle detection in low-light or low-contrast environments.
Last updated: 2023