MUNICH/SPARTANBURG: Tesla has its Optimus; BMW has its Figure 02.
BMW is exploring the use of a bunch of Figure 02 humanoid robots in production for the first time.
During a trial run lasting several weeks at its US plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the latest humanoid robot Figure 02 from California company Figure successfully inserted sheet metal parts into specific fixtures, which were then assembled as part of the chassis.
The robot must be particularly dexterous to complete this production step.
At the same time, using a robot can save employees from having to perform ergonomically awkward and tiring tasks.
Together with Figure, BMW is currently testing and evaluating how humanoid robots can be used safely in automobile production.
“The developments in the field of robotics are very promising. With an early test operation, we are now determining possible applications for humanoid robots in production. We want to accompany this technology from development to industrialisation,” said BMW AG management board member for production Milan Nedeljkovic.
“We are excited to unveil Figure 02, our second-generation humanoid robot, which recently completed successful testing at the BMW Group Plant Spartanburg. Figure 02 has significant technical advancements, which enable the robot to perform a wide range of complex tasks fully autonomously,” said Figure founder and CEO Brett Adcock.
According to the California company, Figure 02 is the world’s most advanced humanoid robot currently available on the market.
The combination of two-legged mobility and advanced dexterity means that the Figure 02 is ideally suited for use in areas with physically demanding, unsafe, or repetitive processes, thereby improving ergonomics and safety for associates.
Figure 02 boasts three times the processing power of its predecessor, improved voice communication, better cameras, microphones, and sensors, a high-performance battery, and fourth-generation human-scale hands with 16 degrees of freedom per hand and human-equivalent strength.
The robot is capable of fully autonomous execution of human-like and two-handed tasks requiring varied and dynamic manipulation, complex grasping, and coordination of both hands in unison.
It is able to place various complex parts with accuracy measured in millimetres and can walk dynamically leveraging efficiencies of the robot’s design.
At present, there are no production-ready Figure AI robots at BMW's US plant. There is no definite timetable established for bringing Figure robots to the plant. BMW said it will continue to work with Figure for data capturing and training capabilities for the Figure 02 robots.
