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I Feel Like I Almost Died and Experienced Heaven — Parallax Forums

I Feel Like I Almost Died and Experienced Heaven

ScopeScope Posts: 417
edited 2010-07-23 11:40 in Robotics
Wifey & I returned from vacation last night - on day one, we visited the BMW plant in Spartanburg, SC.

Very early in the tour, a one mile walk in the manufacturing plant, we saw the "birthplace" of the X5's and X6's - this was where large robots would feed parts to other robots that would grab them and assemble the first components of the vehicle. I just can't say in words how amazing this was - all the robots, all the components, assembling, gluing, welding, checking, moving - really incredible!!!

The tour involved a tour guide, headphones, and a group of about 20 people who each paid $7

I have been to many manufacturing plants across the United States and Canada - I was simply blown away by the BMW plant. Everything about the plant was just amazing - each car is built individually and purchased before it's "born" We were told it takes about 30 hours to make an X5 or X6 but this process usually takes four days. I could go on and on and on about this tour which took a little more than an hour.

Now, do I want an X6? Does a butterfly have wings?

If you ever get an opportunity to be in the Spartanburg, NC area, please call and make an appointment for the tour - you won't regret it.

Happy robotiing,

Scope

Comments

  • Jay B. HarlowJay B. Harlow Posts: 79
    edited 2010-07-17 13:54
    You can see some of the robots here: http://www.bmwusfactory.com/#/home/3616/ (marketing video).

    Jay
  • Spiral_72Spiral_72 Posts: 791
    edited 2010-07-19 17:37
    Wow. You were 1.25 miles from me!

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    "puff"...... Smile, there went another one.
  • ScopeScope Posts: 417
    edited 2010-07-19 23:29
    Spiral_72 said...
    Wow. You were 1.25 miles from me!

    Just before we went in, a capacitor blew on my smaller breadboard - now I know why.
  • Spiral_72Spiral_72 Posts: 791
    edited 2010-07-20 16:11
    Scope said...
    Spiral_72 said...
    Wow. You were 1.25 miles from me!

    Just before we went in, a capacitor blew on my smaller breadboard - now I know why.

    Yep, now you know! Ha!

    I designed and / or built some of the stuff they have in there. One was over in the completed vehicle test area where they drive the new vehicle to 150mph (or whatever the speed) in the dyno room. It's pretty amazing. They brought me one project to calibrate the (up to) six cameras on the BMWs for last year. I thought they were kidding! Who puts six cameras on a car!!?? BMW does. Anyways, the camera calibration thing come out pretty nice. I dunno if it's a secret, but they are supposedly adding two more cameras to generate an overhead view to monitor the entire perimeter of the car on dash mounted display. Oh brother.

    I'll stick with my beater Dodge.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    "puff"...... Smile, there went another one.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2010-07-20 17:51
    Yep, that BMW plant is very nice and a technology showcase for SC. I live in LA now, but I'm originally from Charleston. Nice to hear that you're holding down the fort (Sumpter) in SC, Spiral_72!

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    ·"If you build it, they will come."
  • ScopeScope Posts: 417
    edited 2010-07-23 11:40
    The tour of the BMW plant got me thinking . . . this is what happens when I think too much:

    Post Edited (Scope) : 7/24/2010 5:18:06 PM GMT
    800 x 600 - 120K
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