Figure, a humanoid robotics company, announced today the completion of its largest organizational restructuring in history. CEO Brett Adcock revealed via Twitter that last week three independent technology teams were merged into a newly established AI group called Helix, with the aim of breaking down departmental barriers and accelerating the commercialization of humanoid robots.
A Strategic Integration Named After an AI Model
The newly formed Helix group is named after the core technology of Felix, Figure's first VLA (Vision-Language-Action) embodied model launched three months ago, highlighting the central role of AI in the company's strategy.
According to previously released data from Figure, Helix technology has made breakthrough progress in several key areas, specifically providing general intelligent control capabilities for Figure humanoid robots, which are crucial for achieving autonomous robot operations.
Major Consolidation of Core Technology Departments
Although Brett Adcock did not disclose specific details about personnel changes, according to Figure's organizational structure analysis, this reorganization is likely to involve the company's three major technical sectors:
- Hardware Engineering Department (Hardware): responsible for developing the physical structure and mechanical systems of robots
- Software Systems Department (Software Systems): focusing on the development of the robot operating system and application software
- Embedded Systems Department (Embedded Systems): responsible for the underlying control systems and real-time response mechanisms
The integration of these three departments will help achieve technological synergy and eliminate previous development silos.
CEO Emphasizes the Essence of an AI Company
In announcing the reorganization, Brett Adcock emphasized, "Figure's core is an AI company," clarifying the company's technical direction and market positioning.
In previous interviews, he pointed out that the biggest challenge in realizing the commercialization of humanoid robots is breaking down the silos between hardware, embedded controls, and AI software development. This reorganization is a direct response to that challenge.
Strategic Considerations for Accelerating Commercialization
The large-scale reorganization reflects Figure's judgment on market timing. As humanoid robot technology matures, major tech companies are accelerating their related product commercialization processes.
By integrating key technology departments under a unified AI core group, Figure hopes to:
- Enhance R&D Efficiency: reduce communication costs and coordination obstacles between departments
- Accelerate Technology Iteration: achieve synchronized optimization upgrades of hardware and software
- Strengthen AI Capabilities: concentrate resources to break through technical bottlenecks in general intelligent control.
This reorganization occurs during a critical period when competition in the humanoid robotics industry is becoming increasingly intense. Traditional players like Tesla, Boston Dynamics, Honda, as well as numerous emerging AI-driven companies are vying for this potentially huge market.
By strengthening AI capabilities and optimizing organizational structure, Figure aims to gain a competitive edge. The establishment of the Helix group marks the company's strategic transformation from a traditional robot manufacturer to an AI-driven intelligent robotics company.
Challenges and Opportunities of Technological Integration
Although large-scale reorganizations hold the promise of technological synergy effects, how to balance professional requirements across different technical fields and maintain R&D momentum during the integration process will be significant challenges for Figure.
A successful integration will help Figure establish a technological moat in fierce market competition, while a failed integration may affect its commercialization timeline.
The ultimate effect of this "largest reorganization in company history" will be validated in the product releases and technological breakthroughs over the next few months.