Today, robots are present in almost every factory because they can perform complex tasks faster and more accurately than humans. But sometimes industrial robots turn from obedient assistants into heartless killers. History knows of cases when robots found themselves at the center of terrible tragedies. The very first industrial robotappeared at a General Motors plant in the second half of the 20th century and handled heavy lifting with ease. A few years later, one of these machines, which was used at another plant, became involved in the world's first incident involving the death of a person. What happened and how did a robot end up at the center of this tragedy? Read on to find out all the details.
Fortunately, killer robots like the one in the picture still don't exist. Image source: mirror.co.uk
When a robot first killed a person
It's been 45 years since a robot first killed a person. This tragic incident occurred on January 25, 1979, at the Ford Motor Company plant in Flat Rock, Michigan, USA. The authors of the IFL Science website shared details about this eerie story.
Robert Williams, a 25-year-old factory worker, was working on a system that moved heavy materials around the factory. On that day, the production robot was moving too slowly, so Williams decided to check out what was wrong by climbing up to the third tier of racks. There, he was suddenly overtaken by the robot's mechanical arm, which hit him from behind and crushed him.
An ominous photo of the factory where a robot killed a human for the first time. Image source: iflscience.com
According to the court case, when Williams' body was lying at the scene of the tragedy, the machine did not stop and continued to work. Colleagues discovered the body of their dead comrade only half an hour later. The cause of the incident was that the robot incorrectly recognized a person and considered him an object that needed to be moved. The safety systems on the machine were weak, which led to the fatal error.
In 1983, Robert Williams' family sued the robot's manufacturer, Litton Industries, and won. The court ruled that the plant had failed to ensure adequate safety, costing the life of a young worker. The family was awarded $10 million in damages, which was increased to $15 million in 1984. It was one of the largest personal injury settlements in state history at the time.
Robot Kills Man in Japan
Just two years after Robert Williams' death, in 1981, a similar tragedy occurred in Japan. At a Kawasaki Heavy Industries plant (which makes everything from tractors to passenger jet parts), 37-year-old worker Kenji Urada died while inspecting a malfunctioning robot. Urada reportedly accidentally activated the machine by jumping over a fence. The robot's mechanical arm struck him, literally pushing him into a nearby piece of machinery.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries factories produce a lot of different equipment. Photo source: wikipedia.org
According to some experts, the robot mistakenly perceived the human as a threat and “decided” that the most effective way to get rid of her was to physically eliminate her. The powerful hydraulic manipulator killed the worker on the spot, and then continued its work as if nothing had happened.
Read also: Why are robots and neural networks making us lazy?
Factory accident statistics
Several decades have passed since the first fatal incident involving a robot. Despite the safety measures taken, such terrible accidents continue to happen today.
According to a 2023 study, there were at least 41 fatal accidents involving industrial robots in the United States between 1992 and 2017. Almost half of these cases occurred in the Midwest, a region known for its large manufacturing plants. In 2022, there was even news that industrial robots were causing an increase in fatalities in the United States.
Midwest United States— is a region spanning twelve states in the central and northeastern parts of the country, including such major industrial centers as Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan.
Killer robots are industrial machines. Image source: xakac.info
Each such case raises complex legal and moral questions. Many lawyers believe that the responsibility for the actions of machines lies with the people who create them. But some experts are inclined to believe that the victims are to blame themselves because they do not follow safety precautions.
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Although industrial robots have long been a part of modern factories, cases of their involvement in tragedies continue to be disturbing. If you are interested in how to save yourself from at least an attack by the robot dog Spot, manufactured by Boston Dynamics, read our article “How to neutralize the robot dog Spot if it attacks you?”