Humanoid robot Figure AI has learned to perform tasks 4 times faster and 7 times more accurately

Earlier this year, Figure AI introduced its second-generation humanoid robot, Figure 02. In the few months since its presentation, it has increased the speed of completing tasks by 4 times, and the accuracy of its actions has increased by 7 times. The company called this progress a turning point for autonomous production systems.

Image Source: Brett Adcock/X

The Figure 02 robot was tested at BMW’s production facility in Spartanburg, USA. This marks the first time a humanoid robot has been integrated into an automaker’s production line. During training, Figure 02’s speed increased to 1,000 identical operations per day, which is a significant milestone for humanoid robots used in industry. “This number will grow as we deploy more robots, collect more data and improve our artificial intelligence models,” said Figure AI founder and CEO Brett Adcock.

An important role is played not only by the speed of completing tasks, but also by the accuracy of the robot’s action. During the training, the Figure 02’s accuracy capabilities increased significantly, especially when installing sheet metal into grooves less than a centimeter wide. Adcock said the robot needed to handle “difficult-to-cut sheet metal parts” while avoiding collisions and ensuring precise placement of parts. To meet production standards, the developers needed to reduce the cycle time for one operation by 4 minutes. “It was probably 10 times more difficult than any manipulation task we’ve demonstrated before,” Adcock said. He added that Figure 02 has not yet reached its full potential and the robot is far from the maximum possible speed of completing tasks.

Although Figure AI announced the results of the first tests, BMW said that “there are no Figure AI robots at the BMW Group Plant Spartanburg yet, and there is no specific schedule for their appearance there.” Despite this, the Figure 02 is scheduled to return to the BMW plant in 2025. In addition to BMW, the developer of humanoid robots managed to enlist the support of other large companies and attracted $675 million in investments as part of the latest round of funding. Among the investors were companies such as OpenAI, Nvidia, Microsoft, as well as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Figure AI’s market value is currently estimated at $2.6 billion.