Humanoid Robots Are Coming For Warehouse Jobs

Photo courtesy of Apptronik
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Many warehouses are already using robots, but the introduction of humanoid robots is a first. However, other industries are targeted such as manufacturing, elder care and health care, food production and agriculture. Production expected to start in late 2024.  ⁃ TN Editor

Humanoid robots are starting to work side by side with actual people in warehouses for the first time, moving heavy boxes and containers.

Why it matters: Labor-saving robots with dexterous fingers and a human appearance are expected to reshape the workforce in various fields, from eldercare and food prep to manufacturing and heavy industry.

  • The trick is to get them to walk without falling, hold a charge long enough to be useful, and manipulate things without fumbling.
  • The brass ring? Housework — because who doesn’t want a robot to do the dishes and the laundry?

The latest: The newest humanoid robot, unveiled Aug. 23, is an all-electric model named Apollo made by an Austin-based startup called Apptronik.

  • Apollo is 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighs 160 pounds and can lift 55 pounds.(See a video of the bot in action.)
  • “Science fiction has promised us these for a long time,” Apptronik CEO Jeff Cardenas tells Axios

Driving the news: Apollo, which can run for four hours before its battery needs to be swapped, is one of several first-generation robots designed for live action in the workplace.

  • “Initially, it’s going to start working in the supply chain — doing basic material handling tasks, moving boxes and totes,” Cardenas says.
  • This version “has initial applications, but it’s a software update away from a new feature or functionality,” he adds. “Long term, really the sky’s the limit in terms of what these types of systems will be able to do.”

Where it stands: Apptronik — which won’t name its customers yet — has only pumped out a handful of production prototypes, but says Apollo is suited for “mass manufacturability.”

  • “Right now we have two Apollos that are built, and we’re building another four,” Cardenas said. “These are the alpha units … our engineering validation prototypes.”
  • The next step will be producing beta units — fewer than 100 — which will work outside the lab, Cardenas said. “From there, we move into full production, by the end of 2024.”

Read full story here…

About the Editor

Patrick Wood
Patrick Wood is a leading and critical expert on Sustainable Development, Green Economy, Agenda 21, 2030 Agenda and historic Technocracy. He is the author of Technocracy Rising: The Trojan Horse of Global Transformation (2015) and co-author of Trilaterals Over Washington, Volumes I and II (1978-1980) with the late Antony C. Sutton.
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Goalive

[…] Source link […]

Shepherd's Pie

My dream is a robot to answer all of my wife’s questions for me while we’re watching a movie.

“How are they going to get the diamonds onto the airplane?”

[…] Read More: Humanoid Robots Are Coming For Warehouse Jobs […]

paule

They don’t pay taxes. They don’t pay into Social Security or pension plans or healthcare They don’t purchase anything from shops or grocery stores or gas stations. They don’t need hospitals or schools or highways. They don’t pay home or car insurance. They don’t support tourism. No Churches needed. Etc. etc.
How many of those services will crash & burn?

[…] Humanoid Robots Are Coming For Warehouse Jobs […]

[…] As of writing, humanoid robots are starting to work side by side with human employees. In warehouses, these robots are tasked with moving heavy boxes and containers. […]

[…] As of writing, humanoid robots are starting to work side by side with human employees. In warehouses, these robots are tasked with moving heavy boxes and containers. […]

[…] As of writing, humanoid robots are starting to work side by side with human employees. In warehouses, these robots are tasked with moving heavy boxes and containers. […]