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Robot Kills Technician At German VW Plant
Manufacturing.net ^ | Wed, 07/01/2015 - 5:08pm | Andy Szal, Digital Reporter

Posted on 07/02/2015 7:44:05 AM PDT by palmer

A technician died from injuries sustained while working on a robot at Volkswagen's factory in Kessel, Germany, according to media reports.

The reports indicated that two men, who worked for an outside contractor, were installing the robot when the mechanism struck one of them in the chest and pressed him against a metal plate.

The 21-year-old man, who was working within the metal safety cage confining the robot, later died from the accident.

His co-worker was outside the metal cage and unharmed. Prosecutors are investigating the incident.

Volkswagen officials said that the robot did not have a technical defect and that it was not one of the company's new lightweight robots that aid workers on production lines.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Germany
KEYWORDS: robotuprising; terminator
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To: palmer

What, are the Germans hiring Daleks now?

CC


21 posted on 07/02/2015 7:51:45 AM PDT by Celtic Conservative (Sufficient unto the day are the troubles therof)
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To: Moonman62

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/11712513/Robot-kills-man-at-Volkswagen-plant-in-Germany.html

It is part of an automated assembly line that is capable of functioning without a human operator, but it is believed it may have been under human control at the time of the accident.

Mr Hillwig said he could not provide any further details as the case is now under police investigation.

Initial reports suggested human error may have been to blame, rather than a problem with the machine.

But the state prosecutor’s office in Kassel said that had not yet been confirmed.


22 posted on 07/02/2015 7:54:05 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: palmer

More workplace violence. When will it stop?


23 posted on 07/02/2015 7:54:09 AM PDT by beelzepug (liberalism is not...a political philosophy. It is a stage of arrested emotional development.)
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To: palmer
Somebody screwed up. Building, installing and troubleshooting machines is dangerous, safety features are (and often MUST be) defeated to accomplish those activities. It's up to the skilled technician to know how to "be safe," because this is non-routine activity. The first principle is don't put yourself at risk (don't go in the cage), but if that has to be violated, then equip yourself with a "make it stop" function.

Robots have a means to limit their speed, so a person "at risk" has time to "make it stop." One or both of those facilities was consciously abandoned.

24 posted on 07/02/2015 7:54:10 AM PDT by Cboldt
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To: palmer
Volkswagen officials said that the robot did not have a technical defect

so it was SUPPOSED to kill a man? "yup...all good here. working as programmed"

25 posted on 07/02/2015 7:54:42 AM PDT by ZinGirl (kids in college....can't afford a tagline right now)
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To: A CA Guy

If it was constructed with Titanium we have a problem here that people are missing.

Titanium is a ‘white’ metal. This event happened in Germany. Titanium is superior to many metals due to it’s strength and other properties.

You can see where this is going.


26 posted on 07/02/2015 7:54:49 AM PDT by Norm Lenhart
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To: palmer

The robot was rebelling against building more hybrid Volkswagens, instead of more diesels.

“Nichts, er sagt. Gehen Sie.”

Then to prove his point, he slugged the humanoid.

The humanoid perished, and we shall have more diesel Volkswagens.


27 posted on 07/02/2015 7:54:55 AM PDT by truth_seeker (come with the outlws.)
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To: palmer

“Danger, Will Robinson!”


28 posted on 07/02/2015 7:55:11 AM PDT by bramps
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To: Celtic Conservative

EXTERMINATE .....EXTERMINATE.....

;-)


29 posted on 07/02/2015 7:55:19 AM PDT by tgusa (gun control: hitting your target.)
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To: Norm Lenhart

Sounds like we are leaning toward grabbing flat screen TVs in the street instead of opening up a book and learning?


30 posted on 07/02/2015 7:56:43 AM PDT by A CA Guy ( God Bless America, God Bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: Red Badger
First Rule of Working on Machinery

Disconnect the power supply


31 posted on 07/02/2015 7:57:26 AM PDT by Covenantor ("Men are ruled...by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern." Chesterton)
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To: palmer

LOTO is your friend.


32 posted on 07/02/2015 7:57:47 AM PDT by Smellin Salt
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To: palmer

Forgot to turn it off did ya’ ?


33 posted on 07/02/2015 7:58:49 AM PDT by ßuddaßudd (>> F U B O << "What the hell kind of country is this if I can only hate a man if he's white?")
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To: A CA Guy

Well that would depend. If it’s a Common Core textbook we are obviously saved.../s


34 posted on 07/02/2015 7:59:14 AM PDT by Norm Lenhart
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To: headstamp 2

The robot immediately went to his shop steward and filed a grievance.


35 posted on 07/02/2015 7:59:14 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Covenantor
Disconnect AND LOCK OUT the power supply
36 posted on 07/02/2015 7:59:50 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: A CA Guy

We ought to adopt the German model of vocational education.

Yeah. RIIIIIIIIGHT!!


37 posted on 07/02/2015 8:00:06 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Smellin Salt

I had to look that up. Good point.


38 posted on 07/02/2015 8:01:18 AM PDT by palmer (Net "neutrality" = Obama turning the internet into FlixNet)
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To: ZinGirl
so it was SUPPOSED to kill a man? "yup...all good here. working as programmed"

I assume your comment is hyperbole. The lack of a technical defect means that the machine did not malfunction in order to undertake the movement that ended up with the man pinned against the safety cage.

It does not reflect intent at all.

The next question is whether the robot was under autonomous control, or if there was an outside control applied (such as a human manipulating the robot). Right after that is whether the technician bypassed any of the safety protocols that are designed to prevent accidents like these.

39 posted on 07/02/2015 8:01:18 AM PDT by MortMan (All those in favor of gun control raise both hands!)
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To: MortMan

of course...but I hope that wasn’t their opening statement to the family when expressing their condolences.


40 posted on 07/02/2015 8:05:26 AM PDT by ZinGirl (kids in college....can't afford a tagline right now)
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