Figure 01, the humanoid robot of technology unicorn Figure AI, undertakes some stages in BMW's car assembly, although the speed is quite slow.
In the video posted on July 2 on YouTube, Figure 01 can perform many different tasks, such as handling metal panels, transporting car body parts to the assembly site and putting them in the right position. Besides, Figure AI said that this robot also takes on the job of monitoring warehouses.
However, speed is a limitation on Figure 01, as the action takes place quite slowly. In some moments, the robot also needs wires instead of operating independently.
Figure AI was founded in 2022 in the US but quickly made an impression on investors, being valued at 2.6 billion USD. Robot Figure 01 is 1.6 meters tall, weighs 60 kg with a load of 20 kg and can operate independently with a battery for 5 hours per charge.
In January, the company signed its first commercial agreement with BMW, which deployed humanoid robots at the German automaker's production facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina (USA). Robots will be trained for 12-24 months before officially operating at the factory.
To do that, Figure 01 integrates a neural network that allows analyzing images on the camera, then mapping directly on each pixel of the image and converting it into action through a visual language model created by OpenAI. provide. This neural network provides the ability to process images at a frequency of 10 Hz to create actions.
According to Figure, the AI system inside the robot can ensure actions, such as assembling metal panels, with tolerances of less than 1 cm. Before operating, the robot will be trained through simulation.
Now some car companies are starting to put humanoid robots on assembly lines. In March, Mercedes announced it was using Apptronik's Apollo robot to perform simple tasks such as picking up and carrying parts. China's Nio did the same thing. Honda and Hyundai are also testing robots to automate repetitive and dangerous tasks on assembly lines, and Tesla also said it will bring Optimus into its workshops once completed.