Report 276

A 22 year old man was yesterday killed by a robot at a Volkswagen plant in Baunatal, Germany.

Wire services report that the man was crushed against a metal plate by the robot.

The FT says VW has stated the robot did not suffer a technical defect, but that the deceased worker entered the protective cage in which the machine sits.

The Associated Press' report on the incident quotes Volkswagen spokesperson Heiko Hillwig as saying initial investigations suggest operator error was likely the cause of the fatality.

There's therefore no apparent reason to consider this as anything other than a tragic industrial accident. So don't start with the Skynet, okay? ®

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