Humanoid Robot Startup Figure AI Unveils Next-Generation Robot

Humanoid robot startup Figure AI has unveiled its next-generation robot, Figure 02, featuring an entirely revamped hardware and software design with improved AI and computer vision capabilities.

Figure 02 boasts new hands that offer enhanced dexterity, providing 16 degrees of freedom and human-equivalent strength, enabling it to perform an array of tasks. 

The startup claims Figure 02 is the world's first commercially viable autonomous humanoid robot.

“Figure's robot combines the dexterity of the human form with advanced AI to perform a wide range of tasks across commercial applications and, in the near future, the home,” according to the company.

Figure 02 stands at 5.6 feet tall and weighs 154 pounds. It runs on a custom 2.25 KWh battery pack housed in its torso that provides 50% more energy to increase its run time to more than five hours. 

The robot can walk at speeds of 2.6 mph and lift objects up to 44 pounds in weight.

The next-gen humanoid boasts three times the computation and inference capabilities due to revamped CPU and GPUs, providing power for AI workloads to be performed autonomously. 

Credit: Figure AI

Figure 02's new computing hardware powers features including an onboard vision language model that enables the robot to perform common-sense visual reasoning at unprecedented speeds.

Related:Humanoid Robots Work the BMW Factory Floor

The robot's internal wiring has been completely overhauled, with a new integrated cabling setup that provides higher reliability and tighter packaging.

Figure 02 can also generate speech in response to commands from human operators. 

Onboard mics and speakers are connected to custom speech-to-speech AI models developed in partnership with OpenAI. OpenAI and Microsoft invested $500 million in Figure AI earlier this year.

"The exciting thing is that Figure 02 paves a path for humanoid robots to enter the workforce and the home," said Brett Adcock, Figure AI's founder on LinkedIn. "We're scaling up talent across many domains including AI, manufacturing, software, electrical engineering, integration and test.

Upon revealing Figure 02, the humanoid robots were seen working in a BMW car manufacturing plant. 

The robots were shown handling car parts, carrying them to fitting areas and accurately placing them into the correct slots.

Credit: Figure AI

Figure signed a deal with the German automaker in January to use its general-purpose robots in car manufacturing. 

Figure 02's predecessors performed similar workloads in a BMW factory last month gathering data to improve its underlying AI and use case training.

The startup said it's working to create robots that "not only enhance productivity and efficiency but also improve the quality of life for humans."

Related:Nvidia Robotics Platform Boosted by Boston Dynamics, Siemens, Figure AI

"The advanced capabilities of Figure 02 bring the company one step closer to achieving that vision," a press release unveiling the new humanoid robot reads.

Figure boasts a $2.6 billion valuation having recently raised $675 million in a series B round, with backers including Nvidia, Amazon and Jeff Bezos’ Explore Investments fund.