Remember the end of Terminator 2, where the robot lowers itself into molten metal? Figure staged a similar farewell for its robots. On September 30 it showed how it disposed of most of its second-generation Figure robots. They are being replaced by the new generation, Figure 03.
Why melt them down
The old machines were melted down to protect the company's own technology. Taking each robot apart by hand takes too long: it would delay the release of the next model. The idea was suggested by Arnold Schwarzenegger himself, and a suitable foundry was found in Imatra, Finland.
How it was done
- first the robots were taught to jump from the second floor onto large inflatable cushions;
- the movements of stunt performers were used as a template for training the AI in simulation;
- according to Figure, at the plant the robots jumped by themselves into molten steel in a 75-tonne arc furnace.
What is left of the robots
The team had 24 hours and six melts. Each gave about 20 minutes before the metal was covered with a hard crust. The resulting metal was returned to the US: a limited series of commemorative objects is being made from it.
Why this matters
The loud show is also ordinary practice for a new industry: when generations of robots change within months, companies think not only about new machines but also about protecting intellectual property in the old ones. As for Figure 03 itself, we covered the details of the new generation in the article about Helix 2.5.
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Frequently asked questions
Why did Figure melt down its robots?
To protect its own technology: taking each robot apart by hand takes too long and would delay the release of the next model.
Where were the robots melted down?
At a foundry in Imatra, Finland, in a 75-tonne arc furnace.
What happened to the metal?
It was returned to the US and a limited series of commemorative objects is being made from it.
