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Walmart will soon have robots roaming the aisles in 50 stores

businessinsider.com

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Re: Walmart will soon have robots roaming the aisles in 50 stores

#51

Post by davito88 »

timthelion wrote: post #17

It seems interesting to me, that computers seem to be taking on managerial roles and humans are left with manual labor. The robot knows how to tell a human to fix a problem but doesn't know how to restock the shelves itself. Similarly, in warehouses, computers tell humans what to do, and the human's job is basically just to grab things. In the end, the robot is already higher on the ladder than the humans.

I think this could be said for many technologies: the cashier scans barcodes, the cook at McDonalds flips burgers when the alarm goes off, the anesthesiologist or pilot watches gauges...

Re: Walmart will soon have robots roaming the aisles in 50 stores

#53

Post by apendleton »

zanny wrote: post #48
timthelion wrote: post #17

It seems interesting to me, that computers seem to be taking on managerial roles and humans are left with manual labor. The robot knows how to tell a human to fix a problem but doesn't know how to restock the shelves itself. Similarly, in warehouses, computers tell humans what to do, and the human's job is basically just to grab things. In the end, the robot is already higher on the ladder than the humans.

Its not that we cannot build robots that restock shelves, it is that shelves are designed for humans to stock. And emulating the range of movement and dexterity of human hands and the sensory data we get when interacting with such shelves is really expensive, rather than prohibitive. Especially to maintain. Think of all the fine motor joints you would need in such a robot that could break all the time (like how fragi…

The newer Amazon warehouses actually provide a nice example of some further refactoring to make at least parts of the stocking and picking more automate-able, in that the shelves all move and he humans stay stationary. Fingers are still hard, but moving across a warehouse is easy, so may as well shave off that piece of the task.

Re: Walmart will soon have robots roaming the aisles in 50 stores

#54

Post by criddell »

odammit wrote: post #38
irl_zebra wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you refuse to use the self checkout?

Because I drink a lot. Can’t buy booze in self checkout (in CA).

I'm in Austin, TX and I can buy booze in self-checkout, as long as it isn't Sunday morning.

Re: Walmart will soon have robots roaming the aisles in 50 stores

#55

Post by Roodgorf »

criddell wrote: post #43
Roodgorf wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Given the previous reactions to any sort of move by fast food chains toward anything like automation, I can't imagine this won't be picked up as fodder for the "look what happens when you ask for a living wage" contingent.

You don't think wages have any effect on the decision to automate? I will always vote for raising the minimum wage but at the same time I know it probably makes automation more attractive.

I don't think it has as extreme an impact as the people posting images of a self-service menu imply it does. I will concede that a lot of my aversion to the argument is from the disdain for people with lower-class jobs that I read into it.

But while I agree there is an impact, I also don't think we should avoid automation simply to have someone doing a mindless job if it could effectively be automated. People don't necessarily need jobs, they need the resources that having a job allows them access to.

Re: Walmart will soon have robots roaming the aisles in 50 stores

#56

Post by timthelion »

PeachPlum wrote: post #26
timthelion wrote: post #17

It seems interesting to me, that computers seem to be taking on managerial roles and humans are left with manual labor. The robot knows how to tell a human to fix a problem but doesn't know how to restock the shelves itself. Similarly, in warehouses, computers tell humans what to do, and the human's job is basically just to grab things. In the end, the robot is already higher on the ladder than the humans.

Managers make decisions when the information is equivocal. That is very hard to replace. Resource allocation and unequivocal decisions are for the machines to help us with. If, as a manager, you do more of the latter: be afraid

> If, as a manager, you do more of the latter: be afraid

As a gardener, I have never feared a robot that could pull weeds. As a home-maker I have never feared a robot that could wash dishes. As an inventor, I have never feared a robot that could draft diagrams. And yet those people who are at the mercy of the market fear, and this is why, I believe that capitalism is headed for either disaster or elimination. Capitalism has created a problem which does not exist.

Post-scarcity is only a problem in capitalism.

Re: Walmart will soon have robots roaming the aisles in 50 stores

#57

Post by criddell »

forapurpose wrote: post #50

I wonder why they settled on putting the cameras in robots that are on the floor. Why not use cameras attached to the ceiling? If the cameras need to move to get a good angle, they could move up and down the aisle on tracks or Walmart could simply install more cameras. If the ceiling is a bad angle, they could put them on the floor under the shelving, or on top of the shelves, or in several other places. None of thos…

The Walmart nearest me moves aisles around periodically. Aisle 8 this week has halloween costumes, but two weeks from now aisle 8 will be gone and a large open area will be created for plastic Christmas trees.

Re: Walmart will soon have robots roaming the aisles in 50 stores

#58

Post by timthelion »

davito88 wrote: post #51
timthelion wrote: post #17

It seems interesting to me, that computers seem to be taking on managerial roles and humans are left with manual labor. The robot knows how to tell a human to fix a problem but doesn't know how to restock the shelves itself. Similarly, in warehouses, computers tell humans what to do, and the human's job is basically just to grab things. In the end, the robot is already higher on the ladder than the humans.

I think this could be said for many technologies: the cashier scans barcodes, the cook at McDonalds flips burgers when the alarm goes off, the anesthesiologist or pilot watches gauges...

And Uber tells the drivers where to go.

Re: Walmart will soon have robots roaming the aisles in 50 stores

#59

Post by ronilan »

timthelion wrote: post #58
davito88 wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think this could be said for many technologies: the cashier scans barcodes, the cook at McDonalds flips burgers when the alarm goes off, the anesthesiologist or pilot watches gauges...

And Uber tells the drivers where to go.

Near my house, 4 red octagons with a simple white drawing command humans to stop and cooperate.

Re: Walmart will soon have robots roaming the aisles in 50 stores

#60

Post by timthelion »

panopticon wrote: post #23
timthelion wrote: post #17

It seems interesting to me, that computers seem to be taking on managerial roles and humans are left with manual labor. The robot knows how to tell a human to fix a problem but doesn't know how to restock the shelves itself. Similarly, in warehouses, computers tell humans what to do, and the human's job is basically just to grab things. In the end, the robot is already higher on the ladder than the humans.

Reminds me of this story: http://marshallbrain.com/manna1.htm I always thought it was amusing when people said it would replace burger flippers and the like. Why? They're cheap, and that's relatively expensive/difficult to automate. The slightly higher paid manager though? Ripe for automation.

"The girls liked it because Manna didn't hit on them either."

Interesting story. I'll be sure to read it.

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