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When this "job" is replaced by robots, everyone will be better for it. Of course, these people will need to be provided for, and there are several solutions to

When this "job" is replaced by robots, everyone will be better for it. Of course, these people will need to be provided for, and there are several solutions to discuss, but this job screams for automation.

CaptSpify 11y ago
I have no idea what the people in the warehouse do, so forgive my ignorance, but wouldn't this be a prime spot to test out drones? I'm guessing if you are in an enclosed area, the air-space rules that Amazon keeps fighting don't apply?
- ikeboy 11y ago
  http://time.com/3605924/amazon-robots/ http://time.com/3605924/amazon-robots/
- Practicality 11y ago
  One of my previous jobs we automated a warehouse using a crane and mini-RVs that drove around a picked up pallets. The whole warehouse only* required a couple of fork truck drivers to load the trucks and that was only because of legal restrictions on loading trucks with an automated conveyor. * It also required 2-3 just out of high-school "technicians" making about $15/hour who oversaw the whole operation as well as a "maintenance" crew of about 3 people (to repair machines). I think there were a couple of managers thrown in as well. Still, much cheaper than the 100 employees we replaced and I am pretty sure those employees were happier doing something else.
  - karambahh 11y ago
    I can see how you did if the picked products were of similar weight/size and stored in cardboard packaging, but did it also work for "flexible" items such as clothing or for instance a blanket packed into plastic? AFAIK picking is very hard to automate because it's very hard to match the dexterity and eye-hands coordination of a human being. [edit: grammar]
    - Practicality 11y ago
      They had to be standardized, so this only worked for particular products. You can start with a sorting system that supplies different weights and textures to different systems.
- cperciva 11y ago
  Robots, yes. But not flying drones. It's hard for a drone to pull a bin off a shelf and pick up one item.
swalsh 11y ago
The robots will still need to be maintained by people, for a while, but there will be less demand for jobs that like. The guy who gets that job will talk about how much he "studied, and sacrificed" to get the job, and will take it for granted that he has such a superior living to those who "needs get provided for". My neighbor and I both work pretty hard on our lawns, but his always looks better because he doesn't have a giant maple tree blocking all the sunlight. He probably think's he's just better at lawn work.

CaptSpify 11y ago

I have no idea what the people in the warehouse do, so forgive my ignorance, but wouldn't this be a prime spot to test out drones? I'm guessing if you are in an enclosed area, the air-space rules that Amazon keeps fighting don't apply?

ikeboy 11y ago
http://time.com/3605924/amazon-robots/ http://time.com/3605924/amazon-robots/
Practicality 11y ago
One of my previous jobs we automated a warehouse using a crane and mini-RVs that drove around a picked up pallets. The whole warehouse only* required a couple of fork truck drivers to load the trucks and that was only because of legal restrictions on loading trucks with an automated conveyor. * It also required 2-3 just out of high-school "technicians" making about $15/hour who oversaw the whole operation as well as a "maintenance" crew of about 3 people (to repair machines). I think there were a couple of managers thrown in as well. Still, much cheaper than the 100 employees we replaced and I am pretty sure those employees were happier doing something else.
- karambahh 11y ago
  I can see how you did if the picked products were of similar weight/size and stored in cardboard packaging, but did it also work for "flexible" items such as clothing or for instance a blanket packed into plastic? AFAIK picking is very hard to automate because it's very hard to match the dexterity and eye-hands coordination of a human being. [edit: grammar]
  - Practicality 11y ago
    They had to be standardized, so this only worked for particular products. You can start with a sorting system that supplies different weights and textures to different systems.
cperciva 11y ago
Robots, yes. But not flying drones. It's hard for a drone to pull a bin off a shelf and pick up one item.

swalsh 11y ago

The robots will still need to be maintained by people, for a while, but there will be less demand for jobs that like. The guy who gets that job will talk about how much he "studied, and sacrificed" to get the job, and will take it for granted that he has such a superior living to those who "needs get provided for". My neighbor and I both work pretty hard on our lawns, but his always looks better because he doesn't have a giant maple tree blocking all the sunlight. He probably think's he's just better at lawn work.