The Future of Robotics in Manufacturing: BMW and Figure’s Humanoid Collaboration
In a foreshadowing move for the robotics and automotive industries, BMW has partnered with California-based robotics firm Figure to deploy their advanced humanoid robot, Figure 01, at the automaker’s Spartanburg, South Carolina, facility. This collaboration marks a significant step toward integrating humanoid robots into complex manufacturing processes. Figure recently showcased a video of the 01 humanoid robot participating in vehicle assembly, demonstrating its autonomy and precision. The robot’s capabilities are driven by sophisticated neural networks that map visual data directly to actions. These neural networks enable the humanoid to perform various tasks, like handling sheet metal, working in the body shop, and managing warehouse operations.
Weighing 132 pounds (60 kilograms) and standing 1.6 meters tall, the fully electric Figure 01 can carry a payload of 44 pounds (20 kilograms) and operate for five hours on a single charge. Its intricate design includes 24 degrees of freedom, allowing for precise and flexible movements. The robot’s neural networks process visual data at 10 Hz and generate actions at 200 Hz, enabling it to place sheet metal with a tolerance tighter than 1 cm.
The introduction of humanoid robots like Figure 01 addresses several challenges facing the manufacturing industry, particularly the need for increased automation amid a stagnating labor supply. As the global population ages, the workforce’s growth is expected to slow, necessitating more automated solutions to increase productivity. Figure aims to create a scalable model for humanoid robots that can handle a wide range of tasks, potentially filling millions of unsafe or undesirable jobs in the US alone.
Founded by Brett Adcock in 2022, Figure has rapidly progressed, with a team of experts from renowned companies like Boston Dynamics, Tesla, Google DeepMind, and Archer Aviation. By mid-2023, Figure 01 had already demonstrated basic autonomous functions, and its adaptive learning capabilities were further refined by the end of the year. In an impressive display of its potential, Figure 01 was even shown making coffee after a 10-hour training session, thanks to its end-to-end AI system and a partnership with OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT.
The use of humanoid robots in manufacturing is not limited to BMW. Other automotive giants like Mercedes, Honda, and Hyundai have also explored similar technologies to automate repetitive and hazardous tasks on assembly lines. As Figure continues to develop and deploy its humanoid robots, the future of manufacturing could see a significant shift towards more automated and efficient production processes. This collaboration with BMW is just the beginning of a new era in which humanoid robots become an integral part of the global workforce. The video below shows Figure 01 in action.
Originally published at http://frankdiana.net on July 30, 2024.
