BMW to Introduce Figure’s Humanoid Robot at South Carolina Manufacturing Plant

Figure has announced an exciting "commercial agreement" to introduce its first humanoid robot at BMW's manufacturing facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina—the only BMW plant in the United States. Since 2019, this expansive 8 million-square-foot site has achieved the highest efficiency among all BMW factories globally.

While BMW has not yet revealed the number of Figure 01 models it will initially deploy, the specific tasks allotted to the robot remain undisclosed. However, Figure has confirmed that it will start with five foundational tasks, implemented gradually.

In discussions around these innovative systems, there’s often a rush to label them as “general purpose.” Still, it's crucial to manage expectations. These robots will initially function as either single-purpose or multi-purpose systems, expanding their capabilities over time. Figure’s CEO, Brett Adcock, likens the company’s strategy to an app store concept, similar to what Boston Dynamics offers for its Spot robot through a software development kit (SDK).

The robot's initial roles will likely include common manufacturing activities like moving boxes, pick-and-place operations, and loading/unloading pallets. These repetitive tasks are ones for which factory owners often struggle to retain human workers. Adcock mentions that Figure expects to deliver its first commercial robot within a year, which is an ambitious target even for a company known for its prompt execution.

The specific applications at launch will be largely influenced by Figure's key partners, such as BMW, with early duties likely involving the handling of sheet metal. Although Adcock indicated that additional clients have signed up, he chose not to disclose their identities, suggesting that Figure may reveal them individually to maintain momentum in the news cycle over the next year.

Differentiating itself from other humanoid robot developers, like Agility, Figure is committed to crafting a highly dexterous, human-like hand for more intricate manipulation tasks. This focus stems from the understanding that our workspaces are designed around human capabilities. Adcock emphasizes that Figure 01 will start with jobs requiring significant dexterity.

Regarding the importance of legs, Adcock argues that their role in maneuvering for specific tasks is just as essential—if not more—than capabilities such as climbing stairs or traversing uneven surfaces, which often dominate discussions about humanoid robots.

Training for the Figure 01 will utilize a blend of methods, including reinforcement learning, simulation, and teleoperation, to help the robot navigate challenges. The robot will learn in real-time, adapting its strategies through practical experience, much like humans do. Whether these robotic systems become long-term fixtures in BMW's operations hinges on their ability to meet the automaker's production standards. Currently, Figure is taking a "robotics as a service" (RaaS) approach, effectively leasing these systems with plans to continue this model for the foreseeable future.