Robots have been a main stay in US car manufacturing since the 70s. BMW has upped the ante by being the first automaker to bring bipedal, humanoid robots on the manufacturing floor.

BMW has employed Figure 02, a robot with arms, and hands that work in 16 directions with equivalent human strength alongside human workers.

The robots are only a test for now. BMW wanted to test how humans and robots would work together during manufacturing.

Figure 02 has significant technical advancements, which enable the robot to perform a wide range of complex tasks fully autonomously.

• BMW

Figure 02 is responsible for inserting sheet metal parts into fixtures used for building vehicle chassis. BMW said this task is ergonomically awkward for humans to handle and requires a superior amount of dexterity. Figure 02 is able to accomplish this task without the same dexterity limitations and doesn’t get tired like humans do.

Figure 02’s tryout at Spartanburg is over. However, BMW things humanoid robots could be a promising fixture in the car construction business. BMW beat Tesla by a whole year. Tesla thinks they can insert humanoid robots some time next year.

We don’t know what the future may bring. However, we do know robots are going to be integrated in society. Hopefully, we make that integration in a positive way.