Security is often overlooked in the precipitation to bring humanoid robots to the workplace. As high -level companies ranging from retailers such as Amazon to car manufacturers as Mercedes And Bmw Humanoid pilots have announced for factories and warehouses, conversations around workers’ safety are regularly buried under the media of industry.
A robotics company in the Bay region hopes to correct this deficit.
Figure AI announced Tuesday that it was building a center for the progress of humanoid security, an internal division entirely focused on the subject. Rob Grundel, the former security engineer in Robotics Amazon who runs the project, revealed the plans via a LinkedIn post.
Previous factory and warehouse systems have solved the security problem by caginating in large heavy robots. Subsequent solutions have turned to technology, including advanced computer vision, software developed by Veo Roboticsand a safety vest Designed by Amazon to prevent robots from crashing on people.
Amazon’s Wearable is designed only for internal use and will probably not appear outside of its own realization centers. Even with this technology, the company still uses protective cages for many of its robots. Veo Robotics, meanwhile, was absorbed by symbotic in 2024. More recently, Symbotic has taken the reins of the Walmart robotic division.
Although valued for its adaptability, its versatile features and its ability to integrate into Industrial Shush warehousesThe humanoid factor introduces a new set of safety problems. After all, one of the main sales arguments in the category is its ability to work alongside humans. Their large metallic bodies – freely going inside factories and warehouses – have the potential to cause injuries by collizing with their softer and charming colleagues.
Occupational safety organizations such as occupational safety and health (OSHA) have a lot of catching up in terms of automation safety regulations. Today, there are no “specific OSHA standards for the robotics industry”, ” According to the Federal Agency. This broader concern must be addressed, but the regulations specifically target humanoids is particularly timely.
The AI ​​figure is oriented on this gap.
“One of our recent successes has been to finalize a formal plan with our independent test laboratory recognized by the OSHA to certify the battery of our robot, the functional security control system and the electrical system with industrial standards” , noted Guendel in the announcement position.
Fetch Founder, Melonee Wise, has made the subject of humanoid security a key goal since join Agility Robotics as director of technology in 2023.
“With any humanoid robot operating in this space, security is not clear,” she told me During a humanoid panel During the automation conference of last year. “There is not an easy stop to [Tesla’s] Optimus. There is no stop on many [humanoid robots]and which is against the safety standard. It is very clear that many companies are not interested. »»
The creation of the Center for the Advancement of Humanoid Safety is an important step on this trip for the figure.
“We recognize that the general population is often at the mercy of technological experts to judge whether a robot controlled by AI can be safe,” wrote Gruendel. “We want to speak directly with our customers. We will test and communicate the stability of the robot while being stationary, stability while moving, detection of humans, detection of pets on all fours, safe behavior of AI and navigation to avoid injuries. We will listen to our customers’ suggestions on the means of testing the security of Figure 02 and beyond. »»
The figure plans to publish quarterly updates offering more transparency around the process. The reports will include test procedures and fixes for potential dangers.
“We are going to summarize our successes and our failures,” according to Gruendel.
These successes and their failures could possibly fill the gap on security and prepare the industry for the next jump: to bring robots home.
Humanoid safety standards should become more and more essential as more and more companies are growing to bring these robots home.
