They will replace people in some production areas
Robotics startup Figure announced it has signed a partnership with BMW Manufacturing. As part of the collaboration between the two companies, BMW will begin using Figure humanoid robots at its North American plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. This is the first commercial deal Figure has signed since the company was founded in 2022.
According to Brett Adcock, Figure's CEO, production will initially begin using a small number of robots. If labor productivity targets are achieved, their number will be increased. Robots will be integrated into production processes in various workshops – bodywork, sheet metal processing, warehouse. The machines will first be trained through neural network training: the AI will repeatedly show the processes that the robot will subsequently perform. Upon completion of the training process, the machines will work autonomously. «We designed the robot so that it is safe for people nearby& raquo;, — said Adcock.
If the experiment is successful, then humanoid Figure robots will subsequently appear at other BMW factories.