Two sources said Meta’s inventory robots are currently too slow for some data center operations. One source added that Meta previously explored drones as a faster way to move equipment and supplies, but the company ultimately abandoned the idea.
Inside Meta’s data center robot testing program
Meta’s Altoona Data Center campus serves as a testing ground for emerging automation technologies. “What they’re doing here in Altoona, they’re taking it to other locations and doing it there,” O’Connor said.
Since June of last year, Meta has been testing a two-armed Watney robot at one of its Altoona facilities. According to a person familiar with the company’s efforts, the robot is being used to install and manage data center cables. The machines remain supervised by human operators and cannot yet match human speed, but early results suggest they could eventually support data center workers.
Watney launched in 2023 with a demonstration of a laundry-folding robot that the company said could also handle cleaning jobs in commercial environments. According to an archived version of its website, the San Francisco-based startup shifted its focus to data center robotics early last year.
Meta is also testing other robotic systems at Prometheus, its advanced data center campus in New Albany, Ohio. People familiar with the project said an ABB robot with four wheels, a scissor-lift riser, and a six-axis arm is being used to reinstall components. The system could eventually perform additional maintenance tasks with less direct human supervision.
Still, it remains unclear whether data center robots can consistently outperform human technicians. “There have been many trials and demonstrations, but no demonstrably effective solution,” said Helen Oleynikova, CEO of Exclaim Robotics. The company is developing robotic prototypes designed to replace failed components and reset data center cables.
Some Meta data center employees have reportedly raised concerns about the downtime needed to recharge the robots’ batteries. Meta has also recognized internally that the machines are not yet suitable for certain jobs, including the complex wiring required to deploy Nvidia GB300 supercomputers. “Things are designed to last forever in human hands, so that everything can be fixed in five minutes,” said a former Meta employee. “It will take time to redesign everything.” Even so, Meta’s data center robots are continuing to advance.
This story was originally published by Wired.
Source: arstechnica.com