Humanoid robots with AI will undergo rigorous tests for strength and safety: details

The company, in conjunction with an OSHA-recognized laboratory, has completed a plan to certify its robot's battery, safety, and electrical systems to industry standards.

Robotics manufacturer Figure AI has detailed its plan to create an internal Humanoid Safety Center. Interesting Engineering reports on this.

The company aims to become a leader in the field of safe humanoid robots with artificial intelligence, increasing transparency and communication. The company will share product safety updates, testing plans, and results.

Figure will test durability, human and pet recognition, and AI behavior, drawing public attention.

The California firm emphasizes the importance of earned trust, advocating for thorough testing, regulatory compliance, and third-party certification before robots are introduced into workplaces and homes.

Raising safety standards

In the race to introduce humanoid robots into the workplace, safety often takes a back seat. As major companies like Amazon, Mercedes, and BMW launch pilot projects in factories and warehouses, discussions about worker safety are often overshadowed by industry concerns.

Figure is committed to making the safety of AI-powered humanoid robots a priority by increasing transparency and communication. The company will share product safety updates, outline testing plans, and report both successes and failures.

In this regard, helping to set industry standards, the company is opening the Humanoid Safety Improvement Center, which aims to create a rigorous safety testing program.

Recognizing public concerns, Figure AI is committed to direct customer engagement, testing key safety factors such as resilience, human and pet detection, AI behavior, and navigation to prevent injuries. The company encourages public scrutiny and feedback on the safety testing of Figure 02 and future models.

The company calls on all humanoid developers to be transparent and ensure that robots used in the workplace and at home meet strict safety criteria.

Enhancing workplace safety

Humanoid robots are easily integrated into warehouses, offering flexibility and efficiency, but they also pose safety risks. Their ability to work alongside humans increases the likelihood of accidents as their large, heavy structures move freely in busy work environments.

According to TechCrunch, workplace safety regulations have yet to keep pace with advances in automation. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) currently has no specific standards for the robotics industry. While broader safety regulations for automation are needed, the urgency of humanoid-specific guidelines is growing as these robots become more common in the workplace.

Figure is planning a dedicated facility to test dynamically stable bipedal robots, addressing safety issues in balance, human detection, and force limitations. Given the complexity, standardized testing is essential for public safety.

The company will publish quarterly security updates, adjusting the frequency as necessary. These reports will validate assumptions, share lessons learned, detail testing procedures, and highlight successes and failures. Through open communication, Figure aims to inform the public, set security expectations, and promote industry standards.