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Robert Williams

1954 – 1979

First person killed by a robot, born 1954

Worker
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About Robert Williams

Lived 1954 – 1979 (aged 24–25). Robert Williams was an American worker.

Robert Nicholas Williams (May 2, 1953 – January 25, 1979) was an American factory worker who was the first known human to be killed by a robot. While working at the Ford Motor Company's Michigan Casting Center, Williams was struck and killed by the arm of a robotic transfer vehicle.

Death and litigation Joe Clark (June 1973), Ford Motor Company's New Casting Plant at Flat Rock. Photographed for DOCUMERICA. Williams was one of three operators of the parts retrieval system, Another news account states the robot was not retrieving parts quickly enough. killing him instantly. The award was raised to $15 million in January 1984. Litton settled with the estate of Williams for an undisclosed amount in exchange for Litton not admitting negligence.

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Important facts

Born
1954
Birth century
20th century
Died
25 January 1979, Flat Rock, Michigan
Occupation
Worker
Nationality
United States
Employers
Ford Motor Company

People in Robert Williams's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Portrait of Joe Clark
Joe Clark
b. 1939
Politician
 Portrait of Nicholas Williams
Nicholas Williams
b. 1942
Linguist

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Robert Williams's

Portrait of Adriaan Blaauw
Adriaan Blaauw
1914 – 2010
Astronomer
 Portrait of Alan Lloyd Hodgkin
Alan Lloyd Hodgkin
1914 – 1998
Neuroscientist
 Portrait of Giuseppe Cocconi
Giuseppe Cocconi
1914 – 2008
Physicist
 Portrait of Lyman Spitzer
Lyman Spitzer
1914 – 1997
Astronomer
 Portrait of Mário Schenberg
Mário Schenberg
1914 – 1990
Physicist
 Portrait of Vladimir Chelomey
Vladimir Chelomey
1914 – 1984
Engineer

Frequently asked questions

Who was Robert Williams?

first person killed by a robot, born 1954

When was Robert Williams born?

Robert Williams was born in 1954.

When did Robert Williams die?

Robert Williams died on 25 January 1979 in Flat Rock, Michigan.

What was Robert Williams's occupation?

Robert Williams was a worker.

What nationality was Robert Williams?

Robert Williams was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Robert Williams

· Wikidata: Q9069823

· DBpedia: Robert Williams (robot fatality)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Robert Williams. https://biography.guide/robert-williams-worker/

MLA: "Robert Williams." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/robert-williams-worker/.

Chicago: "Robert Williams." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/robert-williams-worker/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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