QDH was an early research platform from Apptronik of Austin, Texas: a humanoid upper body (arms and torso) that could be paired with different mobile bases. It is neither a quadruped nor a hand, as some catalogs suggest, and it was one of the steps toward the Apollo humanoid.
What QDH was
In its overview of past robots, Apptronik describes QDH as an upper-body platform used to refine compact, high-performance actuation and manipulation for robots that work safely around people, and to explore how humanoid arms, torso motion and control can support natural interaction and useful tasks.
A key lesson was that the upper body and the mobility platform can be developed separately and combined in different ways, an idea carried into Apollo 2, which can run on wheels or two legs.
Apptronik does not publish QDH specifications (dimensions, weight, DoF); the catalog's 18 DoF is not confirmed by the manufacturer.
Place in Apptronik's history
QDH belongs to a series of early platforms: QDA (the first upper-body testbed), QDB (Quick Development Biped, for balance and walking), the liquid-cooled 10-DoF Draco II and III bipeds, the Astra humanoid upper body and the Scorpio mobile manipulator. Apptronik also built the Sagittarius and Apex exoskeletons.
Apptronik's co-founders previously worked on actuators and controls for NASA's 44-DoF Valkyrie humanoid for the DARPA Robotics Challenge. Lessons from all of these fed into Apollo.
Company
Apptronik is based in Austin, Texas, and now focuses on the Apollo 2 humanoid for warehousing, logistics and manufacturing. Apollo works with Google DeepMind's Gemini Robotics models and uses swappable batteries and Apptronik's patented actuators.
Price and availability
QDH was an internal platform and was never sold.
Timeline
- 2023-08 Apollo humanoid unveiled, succeeding early platforms such as QDH
Sources
- Our Work, Apptronik (2026-10)
- Apollo 2, Apptronik (2026-10)
- Our Mission, Apptronik (2026-10)
- Press Releases (Apptronik Unveils Apollo, 2023-08-23), Apptronik (2023-08-23)
Updated: 2026-10-10
Verification and limitations
This entry requires an up-to-date manufacturer specification check.
MERA field measurement report: not published. Demonstration footage and manufacturer specifications are not a MERA test under event conditions.
Data and provenance for AI agents ↗Compared with the catalogue
- It has 18 degrees of freedom against a catalogue median of 28; more degrees of freedom usually means finer arm and hand movement.
- It is one of 4 Apptronik models in the catalogue and one of 43 humanoids from USA.
Capabilities
Frequently asked questions
Is Apptronik QDH a quadruped?
No. It was a humanoid upper body that could be mounted on different mobile bases.
What does QDH stand for?
Apptronik does not spell it out; related platforms include QDA and QDB (Quick Development Biped).
Can you buy QDH?
No, it was an internal Apptronik research platform.
What replaced QDH?
The Apollo humanoid, now in its Apollo 2 version.
How much does the Apptronik QDH (Quad-Domain Hand) cost?
The manufacturer has not published a price for the Apptronik QDH (Quad-Domain Hand). You can send a purchase enquiry through MERA Robotics.
Is the Apptronik QDH (Quad-Domain Hand) available to buy?
Status: Research: a research platform for labs and universities.
How do I buy the Apptronik QDH (Quad-Domain Hand) through MERA Robotics?
Click “I want to buy” or fill in the form on this page. MERA Robotics will reply whether and on what terms the model is available and can help deploy it with the MERA OS conversation system.
Data: Apptronik. Specs from the manufacturer; they may change, always confirm with the manufacturer before buying.
