BMW celebrates a humanoid robot pilot's success at its plant in South Carolina

BMW Group said in a press release on August 6 that it has successfully finished a test of deploying humanoid robots at its Spartanburg, South Carolina, plant.

The AI-powered robots are capable of opening doors, using tools, climbing stairs, lifting goods, and carrying out other duties. The BMW humanoid robot pilot can even precisely align intricate components at the millimeter level.

With three times the computing capability of its predecessor, Figure's most recent robot boasts enhanced voice communication, better cameras and microphones, and a powerful battery. The company claims that it has robotic “hands” with strength comparable to that of a human.

According to the press release, Figure 02's founder and CEO, Brett Adcock, has made substantial technological improvements that allow the robot to fully independently perform a variety of complicated jobs.

BMW claims that despite the successful trial, neither Figure AI robots nor a schedule for their introduction are in place at its Spartanburg facility. BMW and Figure will keep working together to gather information and develop the Figure 02 robot's training capabilities in the interim for potential use cases and for BMW's production innovation.

The use of robots in manufacturing facilities is something that other automakers are also investigating.

At its car assembly plants, General Motors has collaborated with longtime partner Fanuc to develop robotics solutions that would lessen worker strain and increase productivity. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, hinted last month during the company's Q2 results call that thousands of its "Optimus" robots will be "doing useful things" in the company's manufacturing facilities by the end of the next year.