{ "incidents": [ { "id": "RAID-1979-0001", "date": "1979-01-25", "title": "Worker struck and killed by parts-retrieval robot at Ford Michigan Casting Center", "location": "USA / automotive casting plant (Flat Rock, Michigan)", "embodiment": "industrial_arm", "ai_involved": false, "severity": "S3_severe_or_fatality", "harm_summary": "Robert Williams, a Ford factory worker, was struck and killed by the arm of a one-ton transfer vehicle in a five-story parts-retrieval system built by Litton Industries, reportedly after the system gave erroneous inventory readings and he climbed into the storage racks to retrieve parts manually. A 1983 jury awarded his estate $10 million; Litton later settled without admitting negligence, according to the Wikipedia account citing contemporaneous court records and news reports.", "failure_mode": "collision", "sources": [ { "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Williams_(robot_fatality)", "publisher": "Wikipedia (citing NYT 1983, Williams v. Litton Systems court records)", "type": "database" } ], "status": "verified_sources" }, { "id": "RAID-1981-0001", "date": "1981-07-04", "title": "Maintenance worker killed by industrial robot at Kawasaki Heavy Industries plant", "location": "Japan / heavy-industry plant (Akashi)", "embodiment": "industrial_arm", "ai_involved": false, "severity": "S3_severe_or_fatality", "harm_summary": "Kenji Urada, a maintenance worker at Kawasaki Heavy Industries' Akashi plant, was pinned against an adjacent machine and fatally injured by a Unimation-licensed industrial robot while checking a malfunction, reportedly after entering past a safety barrier and inadvertently activating the robot, according to the Wikipedia account citing UPI and AP reports from 1981.", "failure_mode": "crush_pinch", "sources": [ { "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenji_Urada", "publisher": "Wikipedia (citing UPI 1981, AP 1981, The Economist 2006)", "type": "database" } ], "status": "verified_sources" }, { "id": "RAID-2015-0001", "date": "2015-06", "title": "Contractor killed by assembly robot at Volkswagen plant in Baunatal", "location": "Germany / automotive assembly plant (Baunatal)", "embodiment": "industrial_arm", "ai_involved": false, "severity": "S3_severe_or_fatality", "harm_summary": "A contractor setting up a stationary assembly robot was grabbed and pressed against a metal plate, crushing his chest; he died shortly afterward in hospital, according to a Volkswagen spokesman quoted by NBC News. Prosecutors investigated whether negligence played a role; the AI Incident Database classification notes investigators found no AI linked to the robot.", "failure_mode": "crush_pinch", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/robot-crushes-contractor-death-vw-motor-plant-germany-n385541", "publisher": "NBC News", "type": "news" }, { "url": "https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/24/", "publisher": "AI Incident Database (Incident 24)", "type": "database" } ], "status": "verified_sources" }, { "id": "RAID-2015-0002", "date": "2015-07-07", "title": "Maintenance technician killed by robot at Ventra Ionia trailer-hitch plant", "location": "USA / auto-parts stamping plant (Ionia, Michigan)", "embodiment": "industrial_arm", "ai_involved": false, "severity": "S3_severe_or_fatality", "harm_summary": "Wanda Holbrook, a maintenance technician, died when a robot reportedly entered the section she was working in and crushed her head between a hitch assembly it was placing and one already in the fixture, according to a wrongful-death lawsuit reported by Fox News. The suit alleged that one or more safety systems, including safety doors intended to stop robot movement, failed.", "failure_mode": "unexpected_motion", "sources": [ { "url": "http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2017/03/15/lawsuit-malfunctioning-robot-killed-michigan-woman-at-work.html", "publisher": "Fox News", "type": "news" } ], "status": "verified_sources" }, { "id": "RAID-2015-0003", "date": "2015-07", "title": "FDA MAUDE study documents robotic-surgery adverse events, 2000-2013 (aggregate record)", "location": "USA / hospitals (nationwide, FDA MAUDE reports)", "embodiment": "surgical", "ai_involved": false, "severity": "S3_severe_or_fatality", "harm_summary": "A retrospective study of FDA MAUDE reports on robotic surgical systems from January 2000 to December 2013 (Alemzadeh et al.) identified 10,624 adverse-event reports including 144 deaths, 1,391 patient injuries, and 8,061 device malfunctions such as broken instrument pieces falling into patients, electrical arcing, and unintended instrument operation. The AI Incident Database notes these systems were surgeon-guided rather than autonomous AI.", "failure_mode": "unknown", "sources": [ { "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/1507.03518", "publisher": "arXiv (Alemzadeh et al., 'Adverse Events in Robotic Surgery')", "type": "paper" }, { "url": "https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/5/", "publisher": "AI Incident Database (Incident 5)", "type": "database" } ], "status": "verified_sources" }, { "id": "RAID-2016-0001", "date": "2016-06-18", "title": "Temporary worker killed by robotic stamping station at Ajin USA auto-parts plant", "location": "USA / auto-parts plant (Cusseta, Alabama)", "embodiment": "industrial_arm", "ai_involved": false, "severity": "S3_severe_or_fatality", "harm_summary": "Regina Allen Elsea, a 20-year-old temporary worker, was fatally crushed when a robotic station restarted abruptly while she and coworkers were inside it clearing a sensor fault, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. OSHA cited Joon LLC (d/b/a Ajin USA) and two staffing agencies for 23 violations, including 19 willful violations related to energy-control and machine-guarding failures, with proposed penalties of about $2.57 million.", "failure_mode": "unexpected_motion", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osha/osha20161214-0", "publisher": "U.S. Department of Labor / OSHA", "type": "regulator" } ], "status": "verified_sources" }, { "id": "RAID-2016-0002", "date": "2016-07-07", "title": "Knightscope K5 security robot knocks down and rolls over toddler at Stanford Shopping Center", "location": "USA / shopping mall (Palo Alto, California)", "embodiment": "other", "ai_involved": "unknown", "severity": "S2_injury", "harm_summary": "A 300-pound Knightscope K5 autonomous security robot collided with a 16-month-old boy at the Stanford Shopping Center, causing him to fall and running over his right foot, resulting in swelling and a leg scrape, according to The Robot Report. Knightscope apologized, describing the collision as a 'freakish accident,' and the mall reportedly took its K5 units offline pending review.", "failure_mode": "perception_error", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.therobotreport.com/k5-security-robot-runs-over-toddler-at-california-mall-updated/", "publisher": "The Robot Report", "type": "news" } ], "status": "verified_sources" }, { "id": "RAID-2016-0003", "date": "2016-11", "title": "Exhibition robot ('Xiao Pang'/Fabo) smashes glass booth at Shenzhen Hi-Tech Fair, injuring visitor", "location": "China / trade-fair exhibition hall (Shenzhen)", "embodiment": "other", "ai_involved": false, "severity": "S2_injury", "harm_summary": "A 25-kg children's education robot charged into a neighboring glass exhibition booth at the China Hi-Tech Fair in Shenzhen, shattering it; a visitor sustained ankle injuries from glass splinters and received stitches at a hospital, according to Sixth Tone. Organizers and the manufacturer attributed the incident to operator error \u2014 a staffer reportedly pressed 'forward' instead of 'reverse' while the robot's collision-avoidance feature was disabled in manual mode.", "failure_mode": "teleop_error", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1575/robot-goes-rogue-at-shenzhen-fair,-injures-bystander", "publisher": "Sixth Tone", "type": "news" }, { "url": "https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/217/", "publisher": "AI Incident Database (Incident 217)", "type": "database" } ], "status": "verified_sources" }, { "id": "RAID-2017-0001", "date": "2017-07-17", "title": "Knightscope K5 security robot falls into fountain at Washington Harbour complex", "location": "USA / office-retail complex (Washington, D.C.)", "embodiment": "other", "ai_involved": "unknown", "severity": "S1_property", "harm_summary": "A Knightscope K5 autonomous security robot on patrol fell down steps into a fountain at the Washington Harbour complex and suffered water damage requiring replacement; no people were harmed, according to Security.World. Knightscope described it as an 'isolated event' under investigation and committed to replacing the unit at no cost; the robot had been on-site about a week during mapping and programming.", "failure_mode": "perception_error", "sources": [ { "url": "https://security.world/knightscope-k5-drowns-in-fountain-mishap/", "publisher": "Security.World", "type": "news" } ], "status": "verified_sources" }, { "id": "RAID-2018-0001", "date": "2018-12-05", "title": "Automated machine punctures bear-repellent can at Amazon fulfillment center; 24 workers hospitalized", "location": "USA / e-commerce fulfillment center (Robbinsville, New Jersey)", "embodiment": "other", "ai_involved": "unknown", "severity": "S2_injury", "harm_summary": "An automated machine at an Amazon fulfillment center punctured a 9-ounce can of capsaicin-based bear repellent, releasing the aerosol on the facility's third floor; 24 workers were hospitalized and dozens more were treated for breathing difficulty and eye and throat irritation, with one worker initially reported in critical condition, according to NPR. Reports did not identify the specific machine type; OSHA opened an investigation.", "failure_mode": "crush_pinch", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.npr.org/2018/12/06/674201649/robot-punctures-can-of-bear-repellent-at-amazon-warehouse-sickening-workers", "publisher": "NPR", "type": "news" } ], "status": "verified_sources" }, { "id": "RAID-2021-0001", "date": "2021-07-16", "title": "Three grid robots collide and start fire at Ocado fulfillment center in Erith", "location": "UK / grocery automated fulfillment center (Erith, London)", "embodiment": "amr_agv", "ai_involved": false, "severity": "S1_property", "harm_summary": "Three of Ocado's grid robots collided at its Erith Customer Fulfilment Centre, causing a fire that led to evacuation of the building and cancellation of thousands of orders; no injuries were reported, according to The Register. Ocado stated damage was limited to less than 1% of the grid and that sprinklers and evacuation protocols operated as intended, with the London Fire Brigade attending.", "failure_mode": "collision", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.theregister.com/2021/07/19/ocado_robot_crash/", "publisher": "The Register", "type": "news" } ], "status": "verified_sources" }, { "id": "RAID-2021-0002", "date": "2021-11-10", "title": "Engineer injured by robot arm during software work at Tesla Giga Texas", "location": "USA / automotive factory (Austin, Texas)", "embodiment": "industrial_arm", "ai_involved": false, "severity": "S2_injury", "harm_summary": "A robot designed to handle aluminum car parts reportedly pinned an engineer who was working on software for nearby robots, causing an open wound to his left hand and injuries to his back and arm; a machine that was supposed to be powered down reportedly remained on, according to reports aggregated by the AI Incident Database (Incident 620), which drew on a 2021 injury report disclosed in late 2023. Tesla's compliance filing reportedly recorded the injury as requiring zero days off work.", "failure_mode": "unexpected_motion", "sources": [ { "url": "https://incidentdatabase.ai/cite/620/", "publisher": "AI Incident Database (Incident 620)", "type": "database" } ], "status": "verified_sources" }, { "id": "RAID-2022-0001", "date": "2022-07-19", "title": "Chess-playing robot arm fractures 7-year-old's finger at Moscow Chess Open", "location": "Russia / chess tournament venue (Moscow)", "embodiment": "industrial_arm", "ai_involved": "unknown", "severity": "S2_injury", "harm_summary": "A chess-playing robot arm grabbed and fractured the index finger of a 7-year-old opponent who reportedly moved a piece before the robot had completed its turn, holding the finger for roughly 15 seconds before bystanders freed him, according to NBC News citing Russian state news agency TASS. Moscow Chess Federation president Sergey Lazarev said 'the boy hurried, the robot grabbed him' and that operators would need to strengthen protections.", "failure_mode": "grasp_or_drop", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/chess-robot-breaks-boys-finger-during-match-moscow-tournament-rcna39784", "publisher": "NBC News", "type": "news" } ], "status": "verified_sources" }, { "id": "RAID-2023-0001", "date": "2023-11-08", "title": "Technician killed by pick-and-place robot at vegetable-packaging plant in South Korea", "location": "South Korea / agricultural packaging plant (Goseong County, South Gyeongsang)", "embodiment": "industrial_arm", "ai_involved": false, "severity": "S3_severe_or_fatality", "harm_summary": "A technician from a robot-installation company inspecting a pick-and-place robot at a vegetable-packaging plant was grabbed and pressed against a conveyor belt, sustaining fatal injuries, according to CBS News. Although early reports said the robot 'mistook him for a box,' a police official quoted by CBS said it was 'clearly not a case where a robot confused a human with a box \u2014 this wasn't a very sophisticated machine'; police investigated technical defects versus human error.", "failure_mode": "crush_pinch", "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/industrial-robot-crushes-worker-dead-south-korea/", "publisher": "CBS News", "type": "news" } ], "status": "verified_sources" }, { "id": "RAID-2025-0001", "date": "2025-02", "title": "Humanoid robot lunges toward spectators at festival event in China", "location": "China / public festival event", "embodiment": "humanoid", "ai_involved": "unknown", "severity": "S1_property", "harm_summary": "A humanoid robot at a Chinese festival event approached a barricaded crowd and lunged forward unexpectedly before security personnel intervened; no injuries were reported, according to Interesting Engineering. The manufacturer reportedly attributed the behavior to a software setting or sensor malfunction, while some observers suggested the robot stumbled on the barricade; this record is included as a documented near-miss with no reported injury or property damage.", "failure_mode": "unexpected_motion", "sources": [ { "url": "https://interestingengineering.com/culture/alleged-chinese-ai-robot-attack", "publisher": "Interesting Engineering", "type": "news" } ], "status": "verified_sources" }, { "id": "RAID-2025-0002", "date": "2025-05", "title": "Unitree H1 humanoid flails during crane-suspended factory test, knocking equipment to floor", "location": "China / factory test area", "embodiment": "humanoid", "ai_involved": "unknown", "severity": "S1_property", "harm_summary": "A Unitree H1 humanoid suspended from a crane during testing lost control and flailed its arms and legs, dragging its stand and knocking a computer and other items to the floor while a worker attempted to stabilize it; no injuries were documented, according to Robotics & Automation News, which noted software malfunction had been identified as the cause in similar cases but that no official statement had been released for this incident.", "failure_mode": "unexpected_motion", "sources": [ { "url": "https://roboticsandautomationnews.com/2025/05/08/ai-robot-attacks-worker-viral-video-shows-unitree-humanoid-going-berserk/90524/", "publisher": "Robotics & Automation News", "type": "news" } ], "status": "verified_sources" } ], "generated_at": "2026-07-04T15:23:11+00:00", "count": 16 }