Figure's humanoid robot achieves 400% speed boost at BMW plant
Figure AI, a robotics company, and German car manufacturer BMW have announced major upgrades in the capabilities of the Figure 02 humanoid robot. The bot has shown an incredible 400% increase in speed and a sevenfold improvement in success rate on the production line. These advancements are being touted as revolutionary for autonomous manufacturing systems.
Precision and speed in industrial applications
Figure 02 has been demonstrated to perform as many as 1,000 placements per day, a major milestone for humanoid robots in industrial environments. The robot's high-precision capabilities were especially highlighted in a sheet metal insertion task. This required millimeter-level precision and the ability to manipulate "difficult-to-handle sheet metal parts" without colliding and placing them exactly where they needed to be.
Successful trial and future plans at BMW
The Figure 02 was successfully trialed earlier this year at BMW's Spartanburg plant, marking the first time BMW incorporated a humanoid robot into its production line. Although there's no definite timeline for reintroducing Figure robots to the plant, plans are in progress for Figure 02 to return to BMW's facility in January 2025. This collaboration underscores the potential of humanoid robots in enhancing automotive production processes and performing tasks traditionally done by humans.
Figure AI's future plans and industry support
Valued at $2.6 billion, Figure AI has received strong financial support from industry giants like OpenAI, NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Jeff Bezos. The company plans to put more humanoid robots into real-world environments by 2025, indicating a broader industrial adoption. Brett Adcock, Figure's founder and CEO said that the Figure 02 humanoid hasn't even reached its full potential hinting at even greater efficiencies to come.
