A lot has transpired in the 16 months since my last visit to Figure's Sunnyvale headquarters. First and foremost, visible signage now graces the exterior of what was once a nondescript office building in a similar-looking Silicon Valley office park. Moreover, there is no longer an empty desk in sight.
According to CEO Brett Adcock, the robotics company has grown to employ 130 engineers, and he welcomed me on site to see their latest innovation, the humanoid robot Figure 02. Excitingly, Figure is planning to utilize a portion of its $1.5 billion funding next year to relocate to a larger facility just a short drive away.
Inside, robots of various assembly stages line the back of the workspace, with shelves packed full of arms, heads, and other components. A silver Figure 01 stands prominently on display, and when I asked to capture a photo, I was playfully told it was “old news.”
Since my visit in May 2023, Figure has opened its systems integration and testing area. Adcock refers to this section as “the back,” although it’s more accurately positioned to the side. Here, countless components are rigorously tested to ensure optimal performance.
The true highlight, however, is centrally located in the main office space. Isolated by a cage, Figure engineers engage directly with the robots, putting them through a variety of real-world scenarios. A high priority is given to automotive assembly, following recent pilots conducted with BMW.
Earlier this year, Figure robots worked continuously for a couple of weeks at BMW's Spartanburg, South Carolina, facility. Adcock shared that these humanoid robots operated nearly around the clock. While moving totes has been a significant task, it’s far from the only application the company is exploring. Figure robots are set to return to the plant in January, this time on a permanent basis, starting with a fleet consisting of several units.
The automotive sector has shown a strong willingness to embrace humanoid robots, which makes sense given that manufacturers have been utilizing robotics on production lines for decades. Competitors like Boston Dynamics, Apptronik, and Sanctuary AI have also initiated collaborations with automotive clients.
Additionally, Tesla has introduced its Optimus robot, while Agility is focused on consumer goods, recently announcing that its Digit robot has progressed beyond the pilot phase at a Spanx factory. Meanwhile, 1X is setting its sights on the home robotics market. Like Figure, the well-funded U.S.-Norwegian firm has backing from OpenAI. As our tour continued, Adcock highlighted a small area designated for testing Figure 02 in a home-like environment.
Despite these advancements, we are still in the early stages of design and market acceptance. Notably, the price point for these robots will need to decrease significantly to appeal to consumers. Adcock is optimistic about achieving a sub-$20,000 price tag in the future—though this won't happen this year. In the meantime, the company is assessing Figure 02’s capabilities for assisting in kitchen tasks and general household chores.
Our tour culminated with a brief demonstration, during which I filmed the robot walking toward me. The progress since my last visit is remarkable; previously, the system hadn’t been capable of walking. Back then, Figure was testing the leg movements without a torso. The second-generation robot has a sleeker design, with its internal wiring and components no longer exposed. The battery pack is seamlessly integrated within the torso along with Nvidia GPUs and other essential processors.
In the video I captured, the robot was supported by a gantry system. Adcock explained that the systems used in South Carolina operated untethered, but utilizing a support system is much more efficient during testing to evaluate various applications.
Despite the complexities involved, it is always enlightening to witness these technologies up close. Even if a robot’s video isn't heavily edited or teleoperated, it can be hard to know how many attempts were made to achieve the final result. However, the real test will commence on January 1, when Figure’s robots resume their duties at the BMW facility.
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