{"id":2853473,"date":"2024-09-12T06:01:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-12T13:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/techcrunch.com\/?p=2853473"},"modified":"2024-09-12T10:33:33","modified_gmt":"2024-09-12T17:33:33","slug":"face-to-face-with-figures-new-humanoid-robot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/round-lake.dustinice.workers.dev:443\/https\/techcrunch.com\/2024\/09\/12\/face-to-face-with-figures-new-humanoid-robot\/","title":{"rendered":"Face to face with Figure’s new humanoid robot"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Much has changed in the 16 months since I last set foot in Figure<\/a>\u2019s Sunnyvale headquarters. For one thing, there\u2019s signage on the outside of what was an otherwise non-descript Silicon Valley office building in an equally non-descript Silicon Valley office park. For another, there\u2019s no longer an empty desk in sight.<\/p>\n\n

The robotics company currently employs 130 engineers, according to CEO Brett Adcock, who met me on site for a better look at the company’s latest humanoid robot, Figure 02. Next year, Figure will be using some of its $1.5 billion in funding<\/a> to move into new, larger digs a short car ride away.<\/p>\n\n

Robots line the rear of the space, in various states of disassembly. Shelves, too, are packed with pieces of arms and heads by the dozen. A silver Figure 01 hangs on full display. I asked to photograph the robot, and was jokingly told it\u2019s \u201cold news.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Since my May 2023 visit<\/a>, Figure has opened the systems integration and testing wing of its current space. Adcock refers to it as \u201cthe back,\u201d despite the fact that it\u2019s really more off to the side. It\u2019s here the robot\u2019s many components are put through their paces.<\/p>\n\n

The real show, however, is smack in the middle of the primary office space. Caged off from the row of desks, Figure engineers go hands-on with the robots here, testing for all manner of real-world work scenarios. There\u2019s currently a heavy emphasis on automotive assembly, a direct product of the company\u2019s recent pilots with BMW.<\/p>\n\n

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