Figure AI and Tata Group Launch Pilot Deployment of Figure 02 Humanoid Robots in India - RobotWale News

Pilot Deployment Kicks Off at Tamil Nadu Manufacturing Hub

Figure AI and Tata Electronics have officially commenced a six-month pilot program deploying the Figure 02 humanoid robot at Tata's advanced electronics manufacturing facility in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. The deployment, which began on October 12, 2024, focuses on automating repetitive material handling and quality inspection tasks across the production line. The humanoid operates alongside human workers during night shifts, navigating standardized warehouse layouts and executing pre-programmed pick-and-place sequences.

Operational Scope and Technical Specifications

The Figure 02 unit is equipped with a custom-tuned version of Figure's proprietary neural network policy, optimized for high-precision manipulation in structured industrial environments. The robot features a 40-degree freedom actuation system, dual-camera perception stack, and a gripper capable of exerting up to 120 newtons of force. During initial trials, the humanoid successfully navigated warehouse aisles, identified component mismatches on circuit boards, and relocated packaged goods to designated storage racks with a 94% task completion rate. All operational data is transmitted to Figure's cloud-based fleet management dashboard for continuous policy refinement.

India Market Relevance and Commercial Pricing

This deployment marks the first time a general-purpose humanoid robot has been integrated into India's heavy manufacturing and electronics supply chain. Figure AI has announced a localized pricing model for the Indian market, with the Figure 02 unit priced at $38,000 for the base hardware configuration. Annual software licensing and remote fleet management services will be charged separately at $12,000 per unit. Tata Electronics has committed to evaluating the robot's return on investment over the pilot period before committing to a broader commercial rollout across its pan-India operations.

Industry Implications and Future Rollout

The deployment aligns with India's National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems, which prioritizes industrial automation to support the country's manufacturing expansion goals. Figure AI plans to extend the pilot to two additional facilities in Maharashtra and Karnataka by early 2025, contingent on performance metrics and regulatory compliance approvals from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Competitors including Tesla, Agility Robotics, and local startups are expected to accelerate their own India-bound deployment schedules in response to Tata's strategic partnership.