Humanoid robot Figure 02 impresses at BMW plant with 400% efficiency upgrade

Figure AI, a robotics innovator, and BMW, the German automobile giant, have revealed remarkable advancements in the Figure 02 humanoid robot's capabilities.

Operating on a production line, the Figure 02 robot has made a significant leap, achieving a 400% increase in speed and a sevenfold improvement in success rate.

The companies described these developments as a game-changer for autonomous manufacturing systems.

Figure AI is a market leader in humanoid robots and they are much better than Tesla's Optimus. Figure AI robots are autonomous. A Tesla employee said that Tesla's humanoid robots were tele-operated during its Robotaxi Day.

In a newly released video, Figure 02 is shown performing up to 1,000 placements per day. This represents a milestone for humanoid robots in industrial applications. Commenting on this achievement, Figure's founder and CEO, Brett Adcock, remarked, "This will only improve as we deploy more robots, collect more data, and improve our AI models.”

Adcock described the challenge, noting the need for the robot to manipulate "difficult-to-handle sheet metal parts" while avoiding collisions and maintaining precise placement. The operation's cycle time had to be reduced by four minutes to meet production standards.

"It was arguably 10x harder than any stationary tabletop manipulation task we've showcased before,” Adcock said, underscoring the complexity of this endeavour.

The Figure 02 humanoid was successfully tested earlier this year at BMW's Spartanburg plant, marking the first time BMW integrated a humanoid robot into its production line.

While the company confirmed the initial tests, BMW stated, "There are no Figure AI robots at BMW Group Plant Spartanburg, and there is no definite timetable established for bringing Figure robots to the plant."

Despite this, plans are underway for Figure 02 to return to BMW's facility in Jan 2025. This collaboration highlights the potential of humanoid robots in streamlining automotive production processes and tackling tasks traditionally performed by human workers.

Figure AI's advancements are backed by robust financial support, having raised a USD675 million Series B funding round led by industry heavyweights such as OpenAI, Nvidia, Microsoft, and Jeff Bezos. Currently valued at USD2.6 billion, the California-based robotics firm is well-positioned to scale its operations and refine its technology further.

The company plans to deploy more humanoid robots in real-world environments by 2025, paving the way for broader industrial adoption.

With this partnership and its innovative approach, Figure AI continues to push the boundaries of robotics, offering a glimpse into the future of automation.