TSMC Plans To Use Drones For Monitoring Its Arizona Factory, Says Report
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The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is considering using drones as part of its operations at the newly operational Arizona chip manufacturing facility in the US, suggests a report. TSMC’s Arizona site is the firm’s most advanced manufacturing facility in America and it is currently shipping 4-nanometer chips to big-ticket technology companies. The report, from Taiwan-based supply chain sources, suggests that the chip manufacturer is seeking bids from drone providers with expertise in factory construction.
TSMC To Include Drones In Its Arizona Factory Construction & Monitoring, Says Report
According to a report in Taiwan’s Economic Daily, TSMC is building a drone team for its Arizona facility and is in the stage of finalizing drone providers. The firm is currently in the first phase of the bidding, with the final list of companies expected to be shortlisted by the end of this year. Drones, along with artificial intelligence software and robotics, are a rapidly growing technology that is expected to advance further due to AI software.
The details suggest that TSMC is interested in using drones for its factories located in remote and far-flung areas. The firm has had to face significant cultural clashes during its US factory construction, with local labor unions accusing it of preferring workers from Taiwan and not following building and construction procedures. TSMC is also being sued by its American employees for discrimination and unsafe working conditions, allegations which the firm has denied as part of refusing to comment on ongoing legislation.
The harsh environments of remote sites are one reason why TSMC is interested in using drones. According to the industry insiders, TSMC might use the drone to patrol its facilities, monitor traffic, inspect sites and rely on them for disaster relief. As a result, the drones will not only reduce the overall workforce required by the firm for its site operations, but they will also reduce the risk for workers in hazardous situations and environments.
The sources add that China’s DJI, which is one of the largest civil drone manufacturers in the world, will also participate in the bidding process as a US-based firm. While DJI is allowed to sell its products in the US, the firm might find it difficult to access telecommunications networks and other infrastructure for its drones, unless a review is completed soon.
However, even though DJI offers TSMC operational scale, the insiders believe the Taiwanese firm can choose to rely on companies it has either previously partnered up with or those with experience in the construction industry. TSMC operates some of the largest chip manufacturing facilities in the world due to its role as the biggest contract chip manufacturer on the planet. While it is currently manufacturing chips from one factory in Arizona, the firm aims to expand this to three factories by the end of the decade as part of its plan to establish a semiconductor supply chain exclusively for American demand.
