BMW Group brings Figure 03 humanoid to Spartanburg

Physical AI in Spartanburg positions BMW Group as the clearest test case for humanoid robots in mass-market automotive production BMW Group is using Figure AI’s Figure 03 humanoid robot at its Spartanburg Plant for logistics sorting tasks, following the Figure 02 pilot in its body shop supporting the production of more than 30,000 BMW X3 cars. The upgraded robot adds wireless charging, haptic hand sensors, handheld cameras, and speech-to-speech audio features. In the new application, Figure 03, picks components from large, unsorted containers and transfers them to sorting cars for delivery to assembly workers in exact order. The use case is common across automotive production logistics, and the BMW Group says the approach offers the potential for greater scalability. “Plant Spartanburg is the birthplace of humanoid robotic technology in the operational day-to-day activities of BMW Manufacturing. Having already successfully completed a pilot study with the Figure 02 in our body shop, we now look forward to deploying the Figure 03 for a sorting use case in logistics,” Ulrich Wieland, BMW Manufacturing Vice President Production Control and Logistics, said in a statement. Hall 52 in Spartanburg, where the BMW X3 and the future BMW iX5 will be assembled, includes virtual 3D simulation for production planning. Artificial Intelligence Quality Next (AIQX), a camera-based system for visual and acoustic quality inspection, is also used in the factory, and the BMW Group is considering options to extend this to suppliers.

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