BMW plans to introduce Figure's humanoid robot at its South Carolina facility
January 18 2024
Figure has entered into a partnership to introduce its advanced humanoid robot at a BMW manufacturing facility in South Carolina, which is BMW’s sole plant in the United States and the company’s most productive factory worldwide. Although the number of robots and the specific tasks they will perform have not been disclosed, it is confirmed that the robot, Figure 01, will initially undertake five tasks, introduced sequentially. These tasks are likely to involve routine manufacturing duties that are typically challenging to staff, such as moving boxes or loading pallets. Figure’s robot, aiming for deployment within a year, mimics human dexterity, particularly with its hands, to operate effectively in human-centric work environments, and it will learn on the job through various methods, including simulation and teleoperation. BMW’s long-term adoption of these robots will depend on their performance, and Figure intends to offer the robots through a robotics as a service (RaaS) model.
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What does it mean?
- Humanoid robot: A robot that is designed to resemble the human body, typically with human-like limbs and a head, which can sometimes mimic human movements and interactions.
- Manufacturing facility: A location equipped with machinery and tools used to produce goods in large quantities, often utilizing assembly lines or automated systems.
- Productive factory: A manufacturing site that has a high output of goods, reflecting efficiency or large-scale production capabilities.
- Routine manufacturing duties: Standard tasks that are part of the manufacturing process, such as material handling, assembly, or inspection, often performed repeatedly in a factory setting.
- Moving boxes: The action of transporting cardboard containers filled with items within a warehouse or factory environment, which can involve stacking, lifting, and placing them in specific locations.
- Loading pallets: The process of placing goods onto a flat transport structure called a pallet, often before shipment or storage, so they can be moved easily by a forklift or pallet jack.
- Dexterity: Skill in performing tasks, especially with the hands, which in the context of robots refers to their ability to manipulate objects with precision.
- Human-centric work environments: Workplaces designed around human workers, where robots need to adapt to spaces and practices optimized for people, rather than the other way around.
- Simulation: A method used to create a virtual representation of a system or environment, often for training, testing, or experimentation, which in this case would involve a computerized model where the robot can practice tasks.
- Teleoperation: The remote control of a machine or robot by a human operator, who may be located at a distance from the actual equipment.
- Robotics as a Service (RaaS): A business model where robots are provided as a service rather than being sold outright, usually involving ongoing support and maintenance, and often relying on a subscription or usage-based pricing structure.