It’s like something straight out of the future. BMW and Figure — a California-based AI and robotics company — tested assembling parts with humanoid robots at Plant Spartanburg. Over several weeks, the companies worked together to see how these robots can be used safely in car production.
The robot can complete human, two-handed tasks that require manipulation, grasping, and coordination. Oh, and it learns from its mistakes.
According to BMW, making a switch to humanoid bots can keep employees from doing “ergonomically awkward and tiring tasks,” explaining that the robots are nimble + dexterous to assemble the parts. In this case, it placed metal sheets to assist with building the car frame.
This was all a test, and the humanoid robots went back to where they came from. While there’s no timeline for the robots to return, BMW says it’s always on the lookout for new technologies, and it will keep working with Figure.
