"BMW's new automotive employee is a robot approximately 170 cm tall and weighing about 60 kg. It assembles machines using five fingers and takes self-charging breaks every 5 hours."
German automaker BMW has decided to deploy humanoid robots on its production line, according to a report by the US media Axios on the 23rd (local time).
According to the report, BMW will introduce humanoid robots made by Figure, a California-based robotics company, at its Spartanburg plant in South Carolina. While humanoid robots are no longer a new invention, this is the first time they will be deployed on an automotive production line.
Although many automotive production lines are already highly automated and mechanized, there are still many tasks that require a human touch. It is explained that humanoid robots can replace these tasks.
Brett Adcock, CEO of Figure, said, "Humanoid robots can basically do everything humans can do," adding, "They will be useful in facilities where automation is difficult." He also said that we will see humanoid robots actually in use within the next two years.
Robert Engelhorn, CEO of BMW Manufacturing, also stated, "Automotive production is evolving very rapidly," and added, "Robots will increase production efficiency and create an environment where we can focus on the changes ahead of us."
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