One job a robot will never replace ...
Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)
Posts: 23,514
in Robotics
... at least not in my lifetime.
Today I've been watching an artist at work: a backhoe operator. The vacant property across the street from my house is being developed. As part of this project, the development company is providing utility hook-ups to the lots they plan to sell and is extending the cross street down the hill to one of the lower lots. For the past few weeks, the main job has been to expand the sewer line capacity for the five extra lots before the street extension is developed. Today, that effort revved into high gear, with some major trenching, pipe-laying, and refilling taking place.
The backhoe operator is amazing. First, he piled the topsoil on one side of the trench he dug and the subsoil on the other. Now, once the new pipe has been laid, he's very gingerly sprinkling the subsoil on top of it, avoiding the workers in the trench who make sure the soil gets spread under the pipe to support it. This is with a machine with countless hydraulic levers and that must weigh in the scores of tons! It's huge!
Here's a photo taken from my living-room window.
After watching this operation for awhile, the notion of roboticizing it naturally occurred to me. But, frankly, this makes the design of self-driving cars look simple. I think the job prospects of good human backhoe operators will remain secure for decades to come.
-Phil
Today I've been watching an artist at work: a backhoe operator. The vacant property across the street from my house is being developed. As part of this project, the development company is providing utility hook-ups to the lots they plan to sell and is extending the cross street down the hill to one of the lower lots. For the past few weeks, the main job has been to expand the sewer line capacity for the five extra lots before the street extension is developed. Today, that effort revved into high gear, with some major trenching, pipe-laying, and refilling taking place.
The backhoe operator is amazing. First, he piled the topsoil on one side of the trench he dug and the subsoil on the other. Now, once the new pipe has been laid, he's very gingerly sprinkling the subsoil on top of it, avoiding the workers in the trench who make sure the soil gets spread under the pipe to support it. This is with a machine with countless hydraulic levers and that must weigh in the scores of tons! It's huge!
Here's a photo taken from my living-room window.
After watching this operation for awhile, the notion of roboticizing it naturally occurred to me. But, frankly, this makes the design of self-driving cars look simple. I think the job prospects of good human backhoe operators will remain secure for decades to come.
-Phil
752 x 523 - 82K
Comments
However:
https://asirobots.com/mining/excavator/
zdnet.com/article/autonomous-construction-equipment-is-here/
Ken Gracey
So ... no.
-Phil
Sorry, but inline with what Buck R. mentioned, you operate one of these, not drive it.
@Phil
Although, considering where they are digging and the awesome view you have, they are not building anything that will obstruct your view of the water are they?
As far as Robots replacing human operators of this type of Heavy Equipment, it is becoming harder to find skilled operators so companies such as CAT and Hitachi are looking at more autonomous options to work these vehicles. They already have this working with the Autonomous Haulage Vehicles (Large Dump Trucks) and others will follow. Sad though.
-Phil
Spooky!
-Phil
I wouldn't count on that kind of job security. I recall seeing a video of an automated ditch digger a couple of years back. It followed the beam from a laser level and dug a perfectly straight trench with the exact slope required.