It seems that being at the top of technological progress is not always safe even for engineers of the industry of the future. A surprising incident occurred at Tesla's Gigafactory near Austin in 2021 when the company's robot attacked an employee.
Tesla Giga workers in Texas witnessed a robot attack on their colleague. The engineer responsible for programming the software for Tesla robots was the victim of an attack. The robot pinned the man to the ground using its metal claws and caused serious injuries, leaving a trail of blood on the factory floor.
The incident has rattled not only Gigafactory employees, but also regulators. Concerns have been raised about the safety of using automated robots in the workplace, according to a report submitted to regulators. Questions have been raised about the company's compliance with safety agreements and practices at its factories.
Moreover, allegations have emerged that Tesla may be deliberately underreporting injuries. An attorney representing Giga workers in Texas emphasizes that the number of reported injuries may be an undercount. This applies not only to the robot incident, but also to the death of a construction worker in 2021.
In the official 2021 compliance report, Tesla mentions a robot attack, but this information is not enough. Worker attorneys insist a thorough review of injury reports is needed to accurately determine the level of risk to workers at the Texas Gigafactory.
The 2022 data also highlights safety concerns at Tesla's Texas plant. The plant reported a high injury rate, above the auto industry average.
In 2022, Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled two humanoid robot prototypes, Bumble C and Optimus. Bumble C was able to walk without a leash and showed careful movements.
Another robot, Optimus, a stationary prototype resembling a modern knight, impressed the audience with a wave of his arm and a dance move. Musk described Optimus as a near-production design, highlighting its potential to help millions of people perform useful tasks. Optimus can walk, self-calibrate its limbs, pick up objects, and sense its environment, but Tesla admits this is far from fully useful.
Musk believes Optimus will become a universal assistant in factories and homes, performing tasks such as mowing lawns and washing dishes.