Figure has officially announced a “commercial agreement” that will bring their very first humanoid robot to a BMW manufacturing facility in South Carolina. This partnership marks the first and only BMW plant in the United States, with a massive 8 million-square-foot campus that boasts the highest yield among all of the German manufacturer’s factories worldwide.
The launch of Figure’s new robot, called the Figure 01, comes with much anticipation as details of its deployment and responsibilities remain undisclosed. However, TechCrunch has confirmed that the robot will begin its work with an initial five tasks, which will be implemented gradually over time.
While many in the industry may eagerly describe these types of systems as “general purpose”, it is important to manage expectations and note that they are currently designed for specific, single or multiple tasks. Much like the concept of an app store, Figure CEO Brett Adcock compares their approach to offering software development kits (SDKs) that allow for growth and expansion of the robot’s abilities.
The initial applications for Figure 01 are expected to include standard manufacturing tasks such as moving boxes, pick and place operations, and loading and unloading pallets. These are traditionally repetitive tasks that factory owners often struggle to retain human workers for. Adcock predicts that the first commercial robot will be shipped within a year, showcasing the company’s commitment to quick turnarounds.
The specific applications for Figure 01 will largely be influenced by their early partners, such as BMW, and will likely involve tasks such as working with sheet metal. Although Adcock shared that the company has gained additional clients, he chose not to disclose any names. It appears that Figure’s strategy is to announce each partner individually, creating a steady stream of news over the next 12 months.
Unlike other humanoid designers, such as Agility, Figure is focused on developing a dexterous, human-like hand for manipulation. The motivation behind this design is the same reason why many are drawn to the humanoid form initially: our workspaces are built with human abilities in mind. Adcock hints that Figure 01 will be given tasks that require a high level of dexterity and skill.
When it comes to the importance of legs, Adcock emphasizes their role in maneuvering during certain tasks, which is often overlooked in discussions that focus solely on walking up stairs or over uneven terrain.
Training for the Figure 01 will incorporate a combination of techniques, including reinforcement learning, simulation, and teleoperation to help the robot navigate potential obstacles. As with any learning process, the robot will continue to refine its skills while on the job, just as humans do. Whether or not the systems will be a permanent addition to the BMW production line will depend on whether or not they meet the automaker’s expectations for output. In the meantime, Figure is offering the robots through a “robotics as a service” (RaaS) model and expects to continue with this approach for the foreseeable future.
