Michigan Ford Plant Was Site Of First Robot Death

Science fiction has long been obsessed with robots and their capacity for destruction. The Terminator and HAL 2000 from the Terminator franchise and "2001: A Space Odyssey" are two of the most well-known cinematic robots, but they are highly advanced portrayals. So far in human history, despite rapid developments in the 21st century, robots are still nowhere near this level of sentience.

More commonly, robots in action are programmed, and most perform basic functions as a form of labor. The Ford Motor Company revolutionized manufacturing in the 1930s with the creation of the assembly line, which led to a mechanical engineering revolution.

However, these very machines also hold a dark place in history, as they were also where the first death by robot occurred after a man was killed in a Michigan auto plant.

An Automated Tragedy In Flat Rock

On January 25th, 1979, a 25-year-old auto plant worker named Robert Williams was working at a Ford Motor Company casting plant in Flat Rock, Michigan. According to Britannica, a robot used to retrieve parts from "multistory storage systems" had apparently stopped working, leaving the parts unretrieved and the robot stuck in place.

READ MORE: The Most Poisonous Book Ever Made Is Right Here in Michigan

Today, numerous safety standards, like OSHA's Guidelines for Robotics Safety, and programs are in place to ensure that robots and people can communicate and shut down on a dime. But back in the 1980s, most of the guidelines for robotic safety were designed to keep people separated from robots.

Sadly, William's lack of separation from this specific robot was what led to his death. Williams scaled the storage structure on his own to manually retrieve the parts, and while he was up there, the machine turned back on and struck him in the head with a 1-ton arm, instantly killing him.

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A mere three years after William's death, the first committee came together to develop a standard for industrial robot safety. Thankfully, William's family won a $10 million lawsuit after his death. To this day, Guinness World Records lists this as the first documented death caused by a robot.

Travel Back in Time With These 25 Classic Michigan Postcards

One of the most recognizable postcard designs around the country, the "Large Letter" style postcard has made its mark in history, running from the 1930s to the 1950s. Many cities around Michigan were either included in the original run or have made their own version over the years; try finding your city below.

Gallery Credit: Tommy McNeill