Death by Robot: Machine confuses man for a box of vegetables, crushes worker in tragic accident

In a horrifying turn of events, a South Korean man lost his life after being crushed by an industrial robot that failed to distinguish him from a box of vegetables. The unfortunate incident unfolded during routine sensor checks on Wednesday at an agricultural produce distribution centre in South Gyeongsang province, where an employee of the robotics company was examining the robot’s sensor functions. The robotic arm was engaged in the task of lifting boxes of peppers and transferring them onto pallets when an alleged malfunction occurred, leading it to grasp the man instead of the intended box of vegetables. As reported by South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, the robot proceeded to push the man against a conveyor belt, inflicting severe injuries to his face and chest. Although he was promptly rushed to a hospital, the victim ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The employee, believed to be in his 40s, had been conducting preliminary sensor assessments for the robot in preparation for its test run at the pepper sorting facility. Originally scheduled for testing on November 6, the trial was postponed by two days due to reported sensor issues. Following this tragic incident, an official from the Dongseong Export Agricultural Complex, which operates the plant, has called for the establishment of a “precise and safe” system to ensure the well-being of workers. Christopher Atkeson, a robotics expert at Carnegie Mellon University, commented on the incident, stating, “Robots have limited sensing and, as a result, limited awareness of their surroundings.” This incident in South Korea is not an isolated one, as earlier in May, another worker in the country suffered serious injuries after becoming trapped by a robot while working at an automobile parts manufacturing facility. In the United States, a study published by the American Journal of Industrial Medicine revealed that at least 41 people lost their lives due to industrial robots between 1992 and 2017. Surprisingly, stationary robots were responsible for 83 per cent of these fatal incidents, with many occurring during maintenance procedures. Regrettably, these incidents underscore the need for increased safety measures and heightened awareness when working alongside industrial robots. The tragic loss of life in South Korea serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers associated with the use of automated machinery in various industries.