It seems that being at the forefront of technological progress is not always safe, even for engineers in the future industry. An alarming incident occurred at Tesla’s Gigafactory near Austin in 2021 when a company robot attacked an employee.
Employees at Tesla Giga in Texas witnessed one of their colleagues being attacked by a robot. The engineer responsible for programming the software for Tesla’s robots fell victim to this attack. The robot used its metal claws to pin the man to the ground, causing serious injuries and leaving a trail of blood on the factory floor.
This incident has not only upset Gigafactory employees but also raised concerns among regulators. A report submitted to regulators highlighted safety concerns about using automated robots in workplaces. Questions have been raised about the company’s compliance with safety agreements and practices at its factories.
Additionally, there are allegations that Tesla may be deliberately under-reporting injuries. An attorney representing Giga workers in Texas suggests the number of reported injuries may be lower than the actual number. It is not only about the robot incident, but also about the death of a construction worker in 2021.
Tesla’s official 2021 compliance report mentions a robot attack, but the information provided is insufficient. Worker advocates are calling for a comprehensive review of the injury reports to accurately assess the risks workers face at the Texas Gigafactory.
The 2022 data further highlights safety concerns at Tesla’s Texas factory, showing that the accident rate is high and exceeds the auto industry average.
In 2022, Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled two prototypes of humanoid robots: Bumble C and Optimus. Bumble C demonstrated the ability to walk without restrictions and showed careful movements.
Optimus, another robot, is a stationary prototype that resembles a modern knight. It captivated the audience with an arm wave and a dance move. Musk described Optimus as a design close to production, highlighting its potential to help millions of people with useful tasks.
Although the Optimus can walk, calibrate its own limbs, pick up objects and sense its environment, Tesla acknowledges that it is still far from being fully functional.
Musk envisions Optimus becoming a universal assistant in factories and homes, performing tasks such as mowing lawns and washing dishes.
