Meta is testing dual-armed robots that swap network cables inside server racks at its Altoona, Iowa data center. The machines come from Watney Robotics. They work under human supervision. And they move slower than the technicians they might one day replace.
Those details surfaced late last month in a report from WIRED. The story drew on accounts from current and former Meta employees who described an expanding robotics program aimed squarely at the physical work that keeps hyperscale facilities running. One anonymous data center worker offered a blunt assessment. “We thought those of us performing the physical tasks were safe for a while, but not anymore.” The worker added, “It’s coming for us all, unfortunately.”
The trials mark a shift. For years Meta deployed simpler automation inside its facilities. Self-driving tugger robots now move heavy server racks across floors in Iowa and Virginia. Wheeled inventory bots scan equipment and flag failures. Those systems operate with fewer complications. The new generation of arms and grippers must handle dense cabling, latch mechanisms, and hot-swap components without damaging million-dollar hardware…