World Robotics 2021 – Service Robots report released

[rcjordan]

https://ifr.org/ifr-press-releases/news/service-robots-hit-double-digit-growth-worldwide


Walmart is using driverless trucks for its grocery business — Quartz
https://qz.com/2086940/walmart-is-using-driverless-trucks-for-its-grocery-business/

[ergophobe]

>>Demand for professional cleaning robots grew by 92% to 34,400 units sold

On the one hand: well, obviously.

On the other hand: Whoa!

I still keep wondering if we are moving to a post-job economy or just a period of dislocation until we figure out what exactly everyone is going to do to earn their money.

And BTW, one thing that is often missed in the discussion, is the "job economy" is a relatively new invention. It's been less than a century that the typical person even in the rich nations had a job. Two centuries ago, such a thing was rare. People always had "work" of course, but the "job" is a very modern invention. So the idea that we could move to an economy without jobs seems likely rather than unnatural.

In the broad sweep of history, will economic historians look back on the 19th - 21st centuries as the Age of Jobs?

[rcjordan]

"Companies in North America added a record number of robots in the first nine months of this year as they rushed to speed up assembly lines and struggled to add human workers.

Factories and other industrial users ordered 29,000 robots, 37% more than during the same period last year, valued at $1.48 billion, according to data compiled by the industry group the Association for Advancing Automation.

Robots also continue to push into more corners of the economy. Auto companies have long bought most industrial robots. But in 2020, combined sales to other types of businesses surpassed the auto sector for the first time - and that trend continued this year. In the first nine months of the year, auto-related orders for robots grew 20% to 12,544 units, according to A3, while orders by non-automotive companies expanded 53% to 16,355."

North American companies rush to add robots as demand surges | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/technology/north-american-companies-rush-add-robots-demand-surges-2021-11-11/

[rcjordan]

>> Service Robots > Hospitality

https://old.reddit.com/r/BetterEveryLoop/comments/qwz7mj/momma_bird_im_hungry/

[rcjordan]

>> Service Robots > Hospitality

Wow!

"Unlike other robots, Somatic's cannot be bought. Instead, it is hired, on a 40-hour weekly contract like any other employee. The difference is that its salary is $1,000, while a human in similar situations and contexts could be paid more than $2,000. According to the manufacturer, all it takes is to give the robot water and electricity to do its job."

Somatic: This is Bathroom Cleaning Robot - Techidence
https://www.techidence.com/somatic-this-is-bathroom-cleaning-robot/

Fully automatic toilet cleaning robot : BeAmazed
https://old.reddit.com/r/BeAmazed/comments/r0da15/fully_automatic_toilet_cleaning_robot/

[rcjordan]

The robot work force isn't coming. It's already here
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/27/the-robot-work-force-isnt-coming-its-already-here-.html

[ergophobe]

>>. Walgreens is turning to automation to fill prescriptions,

Our dental hygienist was a pharmacy tech. Two years ago, her pharmacy brought in the robot that fills the top 100 prescriptions. So far so good. She kept her job and it reduced lines and stress. But she did some simple math and asked, "How long until they do the top 1000 prescriptions and they don't need a tech anymore?"

She asked herself which professions she could train for in two years or less that would be really hard to fully automate in the immediate future and, as I say, is now our dental hygienist. Smart "kid" (late 20s, one child).

>> Bathroom Cleaning Robot

Missed this one. I told you that floor-to-ceiling tile and a pressure washer is my ultimate bathroom ever since I cleaned bathrooms with a pressure washer when I was 16.

[rcjordan]

>bathroom

While you're saving up for those tile jobs put this in your armory. Works.  Has big enough water tank not to be a PITA without being too bulky.

McCulloch MC1275 Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DF0RB

[ergophobe]

When we were building our house, my wife completely nixed the idea of drains in the bathroom floors. So that particular idea will have to await our next house and, frankly, I plan to shortcut the process next time by buying a house that's already put together instead of one with "some assembly needed" :-)

The steam cleaner seems much more likely to get put to use. But where is the robot one?

Also, that last link (RE robotics not steam cleaners) reminds me... I was trying to find a post that was something like... The question isn't will robots put us out of work, but how hard will our robot overlords make us work. It was about how in an early phase, robotics, in particular surveillance robots, are aimed at making actual humans work harder. Can't find that again.

[rcjordan]

>wife completely nixed the idea of drains

I was going to hide long, narrow drains under the kitchen cabinet toe-space.  But, NOOOO! Too commercial!  After 5 kids, dogs, & cats she started to rethink that decision.

[buckworks]

While travelling in Viet Nam I was very impressed by the idea of drains in the bathrooms. It's on my wish list when we finally build the house.