The rise of the robot farmer
theguardian.com
The rise of the robot farmer
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Re: The rise of the robot farmer
#2OP's link goes to a comment. Here is a fixed link: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/20/space-ro...
Re: The rise of the robot farmer
#3In Spain and in Portugal grape harvesting machines are common. They are also used for harvesting olives. The vines have to be planted in hedges. The machines straddle the hedges and gently shake the tree with rubber flippers. The vines have to be ripped out when they become to brittle.
Re: The rise of the robot farmer
#4OP's link goes to a comment. Here is a fixed link: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/20/space-ro...
I think op wanted to point out the comment that was saying how impossible picking grapes would be by ai.
Re: The rise of the robot farmer
#5> “I expected farmers to be quite luddite about the adoption of new technology,” he [Ben Scott-Robinson] says, as he packs Rachel away.
I actually assume farmers are very welcoming of technology. They are hard workers and good business men. Usually technology makes them more efficient and more money.
Re: The rise of the robot farmer
#6> This is the one note of darkness that enters an otherwise optimistic conversation. “This technology could be used in a completely different way,” he says. “You could have entire states in America with no people in them. The potential for what we’re doing to be used in the wrong way is there.”
What is inherently wrong or evil about this? If we could automate a state-size farm to feed everyone, isn't that a good thing?
Re: The rise of the robot farmer
#7> “I expected farmers to be quite luddite about the adoption of new technology,” he [Ben Scott-Robinson] says, as he packs Rachel away. I actually assume farmers are very welcoming of technology. They are hard workers and good business men. Usually technology makes them more efficient and more money.
> I actually assume farmers are very welcoming of technology
They should be, especially wrt to automation, considering farmers have been the most prolific in hiring undocumented workers while at the same time being some of the most vocal republican supporters. WAY less cognitive dissonance.
Re: The rise of the robot farmer
#8> This is the one note of darkness that enters an otherwise optimistic conversation. “This technology could be used in a completely different way,” he says. “You could have entire states in America with no people in them. The potential for what we’re doing to be used in the wrong way is there.” What is inherently wrong or evil about this? If we could automate a state-size farm to feed everyone, isn't that a good thin…
Well, the one person in the state would get two senators and a representative, so that's one thing to consider.
Re: The rise of the robot farmer
#9In Michigan we've already got family farms with a man, two sons and a single employee handling 10,000 acres. Robots driving tractors, trucks and combines would allow that to expand 5-6X. In turn that would lead to a reduction in farmers of up to 80%. This is a trend that has been running for close to a hundred years. Remember at one time a quarter of America's population were farmers and now it's under 2%.
Re: The rise of the robot farmer
#10> This is the one note of darkness that enters an otherwise optimistic conversation. “This technology could be used in a completely different way,” he says. “You could have entire states in America with no people in them. The potential for what we’re doing to be used in the wrong way is there.” What is inherently wrong or evil about this? If we could automate a state-size farm to feed everyone, isn't that a good thin…
Could mean local community farming hands will suffer from possible job loss and in turn cant make money the way they used to. If people lose those jobs where do they turn, people living in the rural communities do so out of cost or personal preference, so where do the former go if their income disappears?
I guess if you picture it more like in the movie Logan where its just a giant corporate run automated farm that displaces regular farmers who cant afford the setup that seems pretty dark and dystopic.