In a significant stride towards advanced automation in automotive manufacturing, Figure has officially announced a commercial agreement with BMW Manufacturing. This partnership aims to deploy general-purpose robots within the automotive manufacturing environment, contributing to increased efficiency and safety.
Figure’s humanoid robots are designed to automate challenging, hazardous, or repetitive tasks throughout the manufacturing process. By doing so, these robots allow human employees to concentrate on tasks requiring unique skills and oversee continuous improvements in production efficiency and safety measures.
Brett Adcock, the Founder and CEO of Figure, emphasized the groundbreaking potential of general-purpose robotics, stating, “Single-purpose robotics have saturated the commercial market for decades, but the potential of general-purpose robotics is completely untapped. Figure’s robots will enable companies to increase productivity, reduce costs, and create a safer and more consistent environment.”
The commercial agreement outlines a milestone-based approach between BMW Manufacturing and Figure. In the initial phase, Figure will identify and propose specific use cases to apply their humanoid robots within the automotive production setting. Once this initial phase is successfully concluded, the staged deployment of Figure robots will commence at BMW’s manufacturing facility located in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Beyond the immediate deployment of humanoid robots, BMW Manufacturing and Figure plan to jointly explore advanced technological domains such as artificial intelligence, robot control, manufacturing virtualization, and robot integration. This collaborative effort underscores BMW Manufacturing’s commitment to integrating innovative technologies in their production systems, positioning themselves as industry leaders and innovators.
Dr. Robert Engelhorn, President and CEO of BMW Manufacturing, expressed the company’s commitment to embracing cutting-edge technologies, stating, “The automotive industry, and with it the production of vehicles, is evolving rapidly. BMW Manufacturing is committed to integrating innovative technologies in our production systems to drive our future forward as an industry leader and innovator. The use of general-purpose robot solutions has the potential to make productivity more efficient, to support the growing demands of our consumers, and to enable our team to focus on the transformation ahead of us.” This collaboration signifies a strategic move toward enhancing productivity, meeting consumer demands, and staying at the forefront of technological evolution within the automotive manufacturing sector.
