Volkwagen factory worker killed by robot arm

Company claims it was not the machine's error.

A robot arm from a German Volkswagen plant picked up a factory worker and crushed him into a metal plate. Although the factory worker was transported to a hospital, the 22-year-old technician was declared dead after sustaining severe injuries to his chest. Volkswagen claims the robot cannot be blamed for what happened, with the company stating the initial conclusion is human error.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - The incident, which is the first death caused by industrial robot in Europe's history, was like a scene from most science fiction involving robots that harm humans on the course of coexistence.

According to an artificial intelligence expert, the kind of technology that enables robots to act on their own still does not exist.

"It's important to understand that with present technology we cannot 'blame' the robot. They are not yet at a level where their decision-making allows us to treat them as blameworthy. This unfortunate accident is technically and morally comparable to a machine operator being crushed because he didn't use the safety guard," said University of Sussex AI lecturer, Dr. Blay Whitby.

University of Sheffiel's Professor Emeritus for robotics and AI, Noel Sharkey, explained that the robots, without being programmed to do so, cannot and would not attack humans. He noted that the machines cannot "act on their own volition," dispelling the idea that the incident in Volkswagen was a science fiction nightmare turned reality.

Volkswagen spokesperson Heiko Hillwig, described what happened is without a doubt human error. According to the company, the automated arm is not malfunctioning and another contractor present on the scene was left unharmed.

The robot in question is owned by contractors and is used to lift machine parts. When it grabbed the contractor at the plant, he was installing a computer program.

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