BMW ‘human’ robot gets major upgrade with 400% speed increase as it’s tasked with production line duties
AN eerie fleet of humanoid robots has been employed by BMW, and productivity is off the charts.
Figure Robotics founder Brett Adcock shared a bizarre video of the lifelike bots working on the auto brand lines with a 400% speed boost and skyrocketing success rate.
California-based technology company Figure and BMW have been working together for months to create a completely autonomous fleet that can shoulder tiring factory jobs.
The first fleet was tested at a plant in Munich, Germany, in August, and BMW leaders said the results were promising.
Now, the bots have been updated with new capabilities that allow them to fly through 1000 auto part placements per day, Adcock said.
Video of the fleet shows them flying through installations with eerie accuracy as they move just like humans.
Their strength and precision make them the perfect fit for activities like placing sheet metal into centimeter-thin slots.
Figure chose the lifelike design so its robots could tag right into existing manufacturing processes, freeing up workers to tackle less grueling tasks.
"We're committed to delivering millions of useful robots to companies and homes worldwide," Adcock said.
"Humanoid robots in everyday life will make it feel like living 30 years in the future."
Milan Nedeljković, member of the board of management for production at BMW, was pleased with Figure's progress.
"With an early test operation, we are now determining possible applications for humanoid robots in production," he said.
"We want to accompany this technology from development to industrialization."
Figure says its latest iteration of the technology is the world's most advanced humanoid robot on the market.
The bots are powered by electricity and artificial intelligence and can run for 5 hours without a charge.
The company says, "Figure 02 brings together the dexterity of the human form and cutting-edge AI to go beyond single-function robots and lend support across manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, and retail."
What are Figure 02 robots?
CALIFORNIA-based company Figure Robotics is developing a new humanoid robot that can replace humans in manufacturing jobs.
Standing at five feet six inches, Figure 02 is powered by electricity and artificial intelligence.
The bots can run for five hours at high speeds before needing a charge.
They're around 150 pounds and are highly dexterous.
Though the life-like design seems eerie, the company explained why they chose the form.
"We’ve designed our world for the human form. Hands allow us to open doors and use tools; arms and legs allow us to move efficiently, climb stairs, lift boxes, and more," Figure's website reads.
"Figure 02 brings together the dexterity of the human form and cutting edge AI to go beyond single-function robots and lend support across manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, and retail."
Although Figure and BMW have both been impressed with the testing phases, there is no clear timeline for when the bots could join the factories.
However, the fleet will return to BMW in January for further experimentation.
The tech industry has welcomed Figure with open arms since its inception in 2022.
The company has raised over $750 million in funding and has been backed by titans like Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
Every step of the way, Adcock has stressed their goal to help humans, not replace them.
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"The humanoid pitch is an order of magnitude harder than any single-use robot concept," he said on X.
"But F-it let's push insanely hard and make it happen."