Figure Retired F.02 Humanoid Robot Fleet
The company decommissioned its F.02 robots by sending the units into a 75-ton electric arc furnace.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Robotics
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Figure has officially decommissioned its entire F.02 generation of humanoid robots by melting the units in a furnace located in Imatra, Finland. The company opted for this method after facilities in the United States and Mexico refused to process the robots due to their lithium-ion battery components.
Why it matters
Figure determined that maintaining the older F.02 fleet was no longer efficient as it focuses resources on the development of the upcoming F.03 and F.04 generations. The company chose destruction over traditional dismantling to avoid potential development delays for its next-generation hardware.
The decommissioning process utilized a 75-ton electric arc furnace to ensure complete destruction. The robots were trained to jump into the molten steel using movements from stunt artists and specialized AI models.
The players
Figure
This is a robotics company focused on the development of advanced humanoid robots and proprietary AI hardware.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
He is an actor and former bodybuilder who appeared in the promotional video to commemorate the decommissioning process.
The details
Figure used a specialized AI model to guide the robots as they leaped into the molten steel, mirroring movements practiced on airbags by human stunt artists. The event was documented in a 3-minute and 40-second promotional video featuring actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, which the company confirmed contains no AI-generated footage.
Timeline
October 1, 2026: The official publication date for the decommissioning news.
The Big Picture
The destruction of the F.02 generation represents a definitive end-of-life cycle for this specific hardware iteration. This move underscores the company's aggressive development timeline, prioritizing the rapid transition to F.03 and F.04 systems over legacy maintenance.
For the average technology observer, this event highlights the intense pace of hardware iteration in the robotics sector. It demonstrates how companies are willing to prioritize speed to market over traditional recycling or salvage methods.
The takeaway
This event serves as a stark example of how hardware-focused tech companies manage product lifecycle transitions. It emphasizes the importance of future-proofing design to avoid the logistical and environmental challenges associated with disposing of advanced robotics.
Further reading
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