Robert Williams, first known person killed by a robot, struck by a parts-retrieval arm at Ford (1979)
[INJURY]Date Unspecified · Ford Motor Company
Failure Mode
INJURY
Event Date
Date Unspecified
Primary Entity
Ford Motor Company
Robotic Platform
Cross-Fleet / Unspecified
Jurisdiction / Location
Federal / Global
Audit Standard
Physical State Verified
Incident Abstract & Audit Findings
On Jan 25 1979 at Ford's Michigan Casting Center in Flat Rock, Michigan, Robert Williams was struck and killed by the arm of a one-ton Litton-built parts-retrieval robot while he climbed into a storage rack to retrieve parts the robot was moving too slowly. Widely cited as the first human killed by a robot. His family was later awarded $10M in a 1983 product-liability verdict.
System & Fleet Architecture
Operating Manufacturer
Hardware Platform
Operational Sectors
Primary Sources & Evidentiary Filings
- Inspect Filing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Williams_(robot_fatality)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Williams_(robot_fatality)
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Details
Incident Context & FAQ
What happened in Robert Williams, first known person killed by a robot, struck by a parts-retrieval arm at Ford (1979)?
On Jan 25 1979 at Ford's Michigan Casting Center in Flat Rock, Michigan, Robert Williams was struck and killed by the arm of a one-ton Litton-built parts-retrieval robot while he climbed into a storage rack to retrieve parts the robot was moving too slowly. Widely cited as the first human killed by a robot. His family was later awarded $10M in a 1983 product-liability verdict.
When did this incident occur?
The incident is recorded as occurring on January 25, 1979 on the DEPLOY registry. The date reflects the underlying real-world event, not the registry record's creation date.
Who was involved in Robert Williams, first known person killed by a robot, struck by a parts-retrieval arm at Ford (1979)?
The incident is recorded as involving Ford Motor Company on the DEPLOY registry. No specific robot model is linked to this incident in the registry.
Has anyone responded to Robert Williams, first known person killed by a robot, struck by a parts-retrieval arm at Ford (1979)?
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 Robert Williams, first known person killed by a robot, struck by a parts-retrieval arm at Ford (1979)?
This incident is an active record on the DEPLOY registry; no retraction or correction has been issued.