In order to bring humanoid robots to the workplace, safety has been hurriedly overlooked. Companies, such as Amazon, to Mercedes and BMWs, such as Mercedes and BMWs, have announced humanoid pilots in factories and warehouses, so conversations on the safety of workers are under the industry's hypothesis ads. It is buried regularly.
One Bay Area Robotic Company wants to fix the shortage.
Figure AI announced on Tuesday that it has built a humanoid safety improvement center, an internal department that focuses on this topic. Former Amazon Robotics Safety Engineer Rob Gruendel has revealed the plan through Linkedin's post.
Early factories and warehouses have dealt with safety issues by surrounding large and heavy robots. Subsequent solutions have been changed into technology, including advanced computer vision, software developed by VEO Robotics, and safety vests designed to prevent robots from colliding with people.
Amazon's wearable is designed only for internal use and may not be displayed outside of its own full -fillment center. With that technology, the company still uses protective cages for many unique robots. On the other hand, Veo Robotics was absorbed by Symbotic in 2024. Recently, Symbotic has taken Walmart's Robotics Division's reins.
It is evaluated by adaptability, multipurpose function, and the ability to integrate into existing brown field warehouses, but humanoid forms will introduce new safety concerns. After all, one of the main sales points in the category is the ability to work with humans. Their large and metal bodies can cause injury by colliding with a soft and fleshy colleague in factories and warehouses.
Workplace safety organizations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Bureau do a lot to do a lot from the viewpoint of automation safety regulations. According to the federal agency, there is no specific OSHA standard for robot industries today. It is necessary to deal with more concerns, but the regulations for humanoids are particularly timely.
Figure AI is homing to the gap.
“One of our recent successes is that OSHA has completed a formal plan at an independent test research institute in order to certify robot batteries, functional safety control systems, and electrical systems as industrial standards. “I did,” said Grudendel in the presentation.
FETCH founder, Melonee Wise, has been focusing on humanoid safety topics since participating in Agility Robotics in 2023 as the highest technical manager.
“The safety is not clear in the humanoid robot working in this field,” she told me at the Automate Conference's humanoid panel last year. “There is no simple stop [Tesla’s] Optimus. Many people do not stop [humanoid robots]It is contrary to safety standards. It is very clear that many companies are not interested in it. “
Creating a center to improve humanoid safety is an important step in a person's journey.
“The general population recognizes that the robot controlled by AI is often mercy on technology experts in order to judge whether the robot is safe,” Gruendel wrote. “We want to talk directly with our customers. We test and transmit the robot stability, but while moving, static stability, human detection, 4 -footed pet detection, safe AI behavior. Fig. 02 to test and communicate navigation to prevent injury.
The figure plans to publish a quarterly update that enhances transparency, focusing on the process. The report includes test procedures and potential danger.
According to Gruendel, “I would summarize success and failure.”
These successes and failures can ultimately fill the gap between safety and prepare the industry for the next big leap. Bring your robot into your house.
Humanoid safety standards are set to be more indispensable as many companies push these robots to their homes.
