It sounds like a story out of a science fiction book, but it’s real. A robot used for packaging at the Tesla factory in Austin allegedly attacked an engineer during his shift. He was going to injure him in his back and left arm. The incident dates back to 2021 and the news was spread by the Daily Mail, which had access to confidential documents. According to a reconstruction of those present, workers had to press the emergency lock button to loosen the robot’s grip.
The chapter brings up again the issue of full automation in production chains. For example, in South Korea, a worker was crushed to death by a robot last November 2023.
The American company does not report other incidents, but an employment lawyer who deals with factory workers told the Daily Mail that many workplace accidents at Tesla’s Texas factory may have been covered up. The death of a worker involved in the construction of the factory, dated September 28, 2021, would also raise suspicion.
But injury statistics are already above average: 1 in 21 employees at Musk’s huge factory in Texas had a work accident, while on average, 1 in 30 employees had a work accident.
Elon Musk also commented on the incident, downplaying the incident and attacking the media: “It’s a real shame that the media brought up an injury two years ago that was caused by a simple Kuka industrial robot arm (which is in all factories) and insinuated that it’s now thanks to Optimus.” he wrote on social media. Optimus is the humanoid robot that the American company has been developing since 2021 and, according to Musk, will be much more important than driverless cars in the future.
According to Musk, the accident reported by the Daily Mail would therefore be a “simple workplace accident” exploited by the media and would have nothing to do with the issue of automation and robots. But shadows remain.
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
