Figure 02 alleged to have gashed a steel door in a malfunction (whistleblower lawsuit)
[PROPERTY DAMAGE]Nov 21, 2025 · Figure AI · Figure 01 · Germany, Europe
Failure Mode
PROPERTY DAMAGE
Event Date
Nov 21, 2025
Primary Entity
Figure AI
Robotic Platform
Figure 01
Jurisdiction / Location
Germany, Europe
Audit Standard
Physical State Verified
Incident Abstract & Audit Findings
A wrongful-termination complaint filed Nov 21 2025 by former Figure principal safety engineer Robert Gruendel alleges that a Figure 02 (F.02) malfunctioned and carved a roughly quarter-inch-deep gash into a steel appliance door, and that internal impact testing produced forces more than twice a human-skull-fracture threshold, with a person standing nearby. VERIFIED-VS-CLAIMED: the lawsuit's existence and filed allegations are verified by tier-1 outlets (CNBC), but the malfunction itself is an UNPROVEN ALLEGATION in active litigation; Figure denies the claims and says Gruendel was terminated for performance.
System & Fleet Architecture
Operating Manufacturer
Hardware Platform
Operational Sectors
Primary Sources & Evidentiary Filings
- Inspect Filing
https://futurism.com/robots-and-machines/whistleblower-fired-warning-robot-crush-skull
https://futurism.com/robots-and-machines/whistleblower-fired-warning-robot-crush-skull
- Inspect Filing
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/21/figure-ai-sued.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/21/figure-ai-sued.html
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Details
Incident Context & FAQ
What happened in Figure 02 alleged to have gashed a steel door in a malfunction (whistleblower lawsuit)?
A wrongful-termination complaint filed Nov 21 2025 by former Figure principal safety engineer Robert Gruendel alleges that a Figure 02 (F.02) malfunctioned and carved a roughly quarter-inch-deep gash into a steel appliance door, and that internal impact testing produced forces more than twice a human-skull-fracture threshold, with a person standing nearby. VERIFIED-VS-CLAIMED: the lawsuit's existence and filed allegations are verified by tier-1 outlets (CNBC), but the malfunction itself is an UNPROVEN ALLEGATION in active litigation; Figure denies the claims and says Gruendel was terminated for performance. Recorded as a litigation-sourced allegation, not established fact. Cap-flag: incident date not disclosed (the Nov 21 2025 anchor is the lawsuit filing date; safety-testing referenced ~Jul-Sep 2025).
When did this incident occur?
The incident is recorded as occurring on November 21, 2025 on the DEPLOY registry. The date reflects the underlying real-world event, not the registry record's creation date.
What robot was involved in Figure 02 alleged to have gashed a steel door in a malfunction (whistleblower lawsuit)?
Figure 01 by Figure AI is the recorded robot involved in this incident at Germany, Europe.
Has anyone responded to Figure 02 alleged to have gashed a steel door in a malfunction (whistleblower lawsuit)?
No responses to this incident are recorded on the DEPLOY registry. Operators, manufacturers, or affected parties can submit responses to the editorial team; absence is not a guarantee no response was issued.
What is the current status of Figure 02 alleged to have gashed a steel door in a malfunction (whistleblower lawsuit)?
This incident is an active record on the DEPLOY registry; no retraction or correction has been issued.