The humanoid robots from the US-based robotics company Figure AI that worked at BMW‘s production facility have been retired. The robots, named Figure 02, served in the production of over 30,000 vehicles.
US-based Figure AI has officially announced the retirement of its Figure 02 (F.02) humanoid robot fleet that was operating in BMW‘s manufacturing facility. The F.02 robots successfully completed an 11-month period of live production line duties at the BMW Spartanburg factory. This pilot application was conducted to measure the permanent viability of humanoid robots on an active assembly line.
According to data shared by the company, the F.02 robots participated in the production of more than 30,000 BMW X3 vehicles and handled over 90,000 sheet metal parts. Figure AI CEO Brett Adcock shared images of the robots covered in scratches, dirt, and friction marks, illustrating the real-world effects of heavy industrial conditions on the machines.
The images shared by the company show the F.02 robots exhibiting clear signs of wear and tear after months of shift work. These visuals also dispel previous suspicions that Figure AI was conducting only a limited laboratory test at BMW. The company stated that these images, along with the performance data they shared, confirm that humanoid robots can withstand a continuous, months-long production pace.
Performance Results of the Pilot Application
Figure AI also disclosed technical details regarding the performance of the F.02 robots in the field. The company reported that following the setup process, the robots were quickly moved to the assembly line and became fully operational within the first six months. By the tenth month, the robots were working full shifts on the assembly line.
The robots’ main task was to retrieve sheet metal parts from boxes and place them into the corresponding welding bay with a 5-millimeter tolerance. After the parts were positioned correctly, the welding process was executed by traditional robotic arms. The F.02s completed this operation with an 84-second cycle time, dedicating 37 seconds to the loading phase. The company announced that the accuracy rate remained above 99 percent.
- During the trial period, the robots logged over 1,250 hours of operational time.
- Throughout the process, the robots took 1.2 million steps or walked 320 kilometers.
- The robots operated on a 10-hour shift schedule on weekdays.
Figure AI noted that the testing process yielded important lessons not only from its successes but also from the technical problems encountered. The most notable difficulty arose in the arm design of the humanoid form, particularly in the forearm. Squeezing three degrees of freedom, thermal management, and cabling into a human-sized structure led to wear and tear on the microcontrollers and cables. The company emphasized that this type of failure is rarely discussed across the industry.
As a result of these experiences, the newly developed Figure 03 utilizes an entirely different architecture in the forearm region. The new design eliminates the distribution board and moving cabling components. The motor controllers are also now connected directly to the main computer.
You Might Also Like;
- We Selected 10 Series Similar to Stranger Things for Those Who Love It
- Where and How is Silver Used in Electric Vehicles?
- Hyundai Unveils Its Multi-Purpose Wheeled Robot
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
