BMW
BMW is expanding its investigation into humanoid robotic workers in its factories. The automaker recently announced that it will test a group of physical AI robots developed by Hexagon for the first time at one of its European plants.
After about a year of training, BMW deployed Figure AI robots at its Spartanburg plant as a pilot to test their performance in real manufacturing conditions. According to the company, the trial proved highly successful. Figure 02 robots helped build over 30,000 BMW X3s by precisely positioning sheet metal for welding. The robots carried out this repetitive and physically demanding task for 10 hours a day, five days a week. By the end of the 1,250-hour pilot, the humanoid team moved about 90,000 components and took roughly 1.2 million steps.
AEON humanoid robots arrive at BMW’s Leipzig plant
BMW is now introducing humanoid robots from another manufacturer at its plant in Leipzig, Germany. The AEON robots are produced by Zurich-based Hexagon and were unveiled in June last year. These machines are called “physical AI” because they use sensors and AI to analyze their surroundings and make decisions autonomously. They can also learn while performing different tasks and adjust their programming according to their experiences. The automaker also released a polished video offering a closer look at the robots in action.
AEON robots move on wheeled legs at up to 2.4 m/s, stand 165 cm tall, weigh 60 kg, and carry 15 kg short-term or 8 kg long-term. They also swap their own batteries after about four hours to keep working continuously.
BMW says the robots will first undergo testing at the Leipzig plant, where they will be assigned a range of tasks during an evaluation phase. Later, they are expected to take part in a pilot program focused on assembling high-voltage batteries and supporting the production of other components.
BMW pushes early adoption of physical AI robots in manufacturing
BMW executive Michael Nikolaides said the company stays ahead by adopting new tech early, using pilot projects to test and refine AI-powered robots in real factory conditions. He added that successful trials in Spartanburg proved humanoid robots can work effectively in active manufacturing, not just labs.
Read the original article on: Newatlas
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