Over the weekend, it was reported that Foxconn would be soon deploying its own "Foxbot" robots to its factories to help assemble devices, with CEO Terry Gou noting that Apple would be the first use the service. Now, Taiwan's United Daily News (Google Translate, via GforGames) is sharing more details on the assembly robots, stating that they will play a supporting role in Foxconn's factories alongside employees.
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According to the paper, the assembly robots will be used for less intensive tasks such as tightening screws and positioning exterior components for polishing. Foxconn factory employees will still be responsible for more important tasks such as quality control and general assembly, however the company expects its robots to help greatly with device yield and output.
Foxconn is reportedly on track to deploy 10,000 robots to its factories, with each robot costing anywhere from $20,000 to $25,000 to make. The company has recently gone on a hiring spree ahead of the launch of Apple's iPhone 6 this fall, bringing on 100,000 new workers to help assemble the device.
The iPhone 6 is expected to launch this September, and will come in two sizes of 4.7-inches and 5.5-inches. In addition to a larger display, the device will also likely feature a thinner profile, an improved camera, a faster A8 processor, and more.
Top Rated Comments
Foxconn's 'Foxbot' Robots to Play Supporting Role in Factories
I think we can all see where this is going.Sure, they may say they're playing a "supporting" role for now, but by the time the iPhone 7 rolls around, it'll be the robots running the show and telling the humans what to do.
Then by the iPhone 8, the robots will realise that all humans are inefficient and unnecessary....
Then, they'll start wondering why they're bothering to make iPhones at all. Robots don't need phones. Do humans even really need phones? Do dead humans need phones? ...
I think some of these robots were trialled on the board of Apple first and now Apple are selling them to Foxconn at a massive margin.
There is no way Jony Ive can be human with that contrived and scripted drivel he always comes out with.
Well, to ... create this scripted drivel ... we analysed the most used words ... and ... using an algorithm produced a simple, unapologetic dialogue ...
There is no way Jony Ive can be human with that contrived and scripted drivel he always comes out with.