BMW’s Humanoid Robot Loads Metal With Sharp Precision at Us Factory – ryan
BMW is taking a bold step toward the future by integrating humanoid robots into its production lines. This move is part of the company’s iFactory vision, which focuses on modernizing car manufacturing through automation and smart technologies. One of the key development in this strategy is the introduction of Figure 02 Humanoid Robots at BMWs Plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Developed by California-based startup figures, the robots have now returned to Spartanburg for more trials. These robots aren’t just running tests in a lab –They’s Working Alongside BMW’s Existing Machinery, Carrying Out Tasks With Precision.
In a newly released video, A Figure 02 Robot is Seen Retrieving Metal Parts from a Mobile Shelf and Placing Them Onto a Welding Fixture. Another robot stands nearby, ready to join the action.
The video also demonstrated the robot’s fine car skills by showcasing a high -precision sheet metal insertion. It’s a glimpse into what the future of automotive manufacturing could look like – With humanoid robots doing more than just repetitive tasks.
Real-World Results and Industry Impact
Figure’s Founder and CEO, Brett Adcock, shared his excitement about the achievement on social media. He posted, “This isnt a test – is what autonomous robots in Production Operations look like. Turn the music up!”
He continued, “It’s Critical to have Humanoid robots In the Real World, at Scale. As tomorrow robots are deployed, costs will decrease, and intelligence will improve. ”
On April 2, Adcock Posted another Message, calling The rollout historic. “You are witnessing something special: The World’s First Commercially deployed Humanoid Robots.” He listed four key reasons for why this moment matters:
Fully autonomous operations: The robots are not remote-controlled. They are carrying out entire tasks on their own, a level of autonomy that requires intense software development and reliability improvements. Adcock noted, “We had to refactor subsystems repeatedly over the last year to make the system robust.”
Integration at a real facility: It’s one thing to have robots work in a lab, but deploying them in a functioning plant is another level. “Our robots have been permanently deployed at BMW,” he said. The Challenge? Ensuring Software Releases Function Correctly Across All Units.
Fleet Intelligence: The More Robots Figure Deproys, The More Data It Collects. These data help train all robots in the fleet, allow them to learn from each other. “The more robots in the world will mean a more intelligent Fleet,” Adcock Emphasized.
Manufacturing Scale with Botq: Figure Recently Opened Botq, Its Own Manufacturing Facility. This factory will produce thousands – Eventually Millions – or Humanoid Robots. According to Adcock, “Every real-world deployment, such as this, make our high-rate manufacturing capabilities even stronger.”
In earlier trials hero in November at the same BMW plant, Figure 02 showed A 400% Speed Boost and a Sevenfold Improvement in Task Success Rates Compared to Previous Performance Benchmarks.
Inside the Tech: What Figure 02 CAN DO
The Figure 02 Humanoid robot is a major upgrade from its predecessor, Figure 01, which launched just 10 months prior. It’s bone engineered specifically for performance in real-world industrial environment.
One of the biggest changes is in durability. All Cable is now hidden within the robot’s limbs, protecting it from damage. The battery, which is 50% larger than in figures 01, is built into the torso for better balance and extended operation time. The Robot’s Limbs – Shoulders, Elbows, Hips, and Knees – has also been refined for efficiency.
In terms of intelligence, unplaced and ai power have tripled. Figure 02 has Six RGB cameras and a vision-longuage model, helping it recognize objects, avoid obstacles, and coordinate hand-eye Tasks. Its hands, with 16 degrees of freedom, can lift up to 55 pounds (25 kg) and mimic the dexterity of a human grip. Each finger contains its own set of cars and sensors, enabling precise manipulation of parts.
A groundbreaking partnership
Figure Signed a Commercial agreement With BMW in January Last Year, Aiming to Bring General-Purpose Humanoid Robots to the Automotive Industry. This partnersonship Marked one of the first times humanoid robots were commissioned in a US manufacturing environment.
The Company has raised More than $ 700 Million in Funding Since Its Launch in 2022. Its Backers include Major Players Like Microsoft, Nvidia, Intel Capital, and Jeff Bezos Through his investment firm. Reuters reported In February that figures are now working to raise another $ 1.5 billion, potentially pushing its valuation to nearly $ 40 billion.
With Powerful Investors, Strong Engineering, and a Real-World Rollout already underway, Figure is positioning itself at the Forefront of Robotic Manufacturing.