this post was submitted on 18 Jan 2024
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[–] zero_spelled_with_an_ecks 22 points 10 months ago (1 children)

But why? Human-shaped is not the best shape for making cars. Wouldn't this be massively inefficient?

[–] [email protected] 22 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Because they can be slotted in to work existing machinery without retooling the entire plant.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago
[–] SheeEttin 1 points 10 months ago

A couple belts and pulleys can pull levers just fine, and are far cheaper. And far more maintainable, too, you just need a mechanic, not a whole contracted support team.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 10 months ago

But MSRP is gonna drop from the efficiency right? Right?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)

This is the best summary I could come up with:


The robots are intended to automate “difficult, unsafe, or tedious” manufacturing tasks, and if they’re found to be viable, they’ll then be deployed in the BMW facility in stages.

“Figure’s robots will enable companies to increase productivity, reduce costs, and create a safer and more consistent environment.”

Car manufacturers like Honda and Hyundai have had a visible presence in the development of walking robots over the years, but attempts at integrating them into the real world are ramping up.

The BMW manufacturing facility in South Carolina is the company’s only US-based plant, where it assembles around 1,500 X-series and XM-series vehicles every day.

Neither company has disclosed how many of Figure’s humanoid robots will be deployed at the facility or what tasks they’re expected to undertake, though Adcock told Reuters that the partnership will start with “small quantities” that will increase if performance targets are met.

The Reuters report also gives a fairly wide window for deployment to allow Figure to train the bots to perform specific tasks — it could take anywhere from 12–24 months for them to actually be integrated into BMW’s manufacturing processes if it does identify a viable use for them.


The original article contains 298 words, the summary contains 195 words. Saved 35%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 10 months ago

Good bot ...commenting about other robots