A middle-aged South Korean man was crushed to death by an industrial robot that mistook him for boxes of vegetables it was packaging.

According to Yonhap, the man was inspecting the robotic arm's sensor at a nearby plant when the machine mistook him for a crate of bell peppers.

PHOTO | COURTESY Man Crushed To Death By Robotic Arm That Mistook Him For Box Of Vegetables

The deceased, an employee of a robotics company, was conducting operational tests on the robot to verify its efficacy when its sensor reportedly became unresponsive, prompting him to examine it manually.

Did you read this?

  1. Kim Jong Un Threatens To Destroy South Korea With Nuclear Strikes
  2. South Korea Sack Klinsmann After A Year In Charge
  3. South Korea Football Officials Recommend Firing Coach Klinsmann

It allegedly pushed his body into a conveyor belt, crushing his face and chest. He was transported to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Since then, local authorities have initiated investigations to investigate whether the robotic arm had any technological flaws or safety risks.