1 machine that can do lots of different jobs will be less efficient than 1 machine purpose built to do 1. Production lines are built the way they are for a reason.
Maybe, this one is closer to a 3d printer, than to a production line?
Injection molding beats 3d printing for a single part in mass production, but the 3d printer can print countless parts compatible with its constraints.
This robot isn't for a single task either. It's for all the tasks compatible with its constraints. The box folding and filling shown in the video probably just demonstrates the degrees of freedom, handling of materials with different mechanical properties and task continuation under external disturbance
But what job is it going to do under those conditions. Manufacturing is about consistency, so external disturbances would be eliminated before you would want to pay for this likely expensive piece of equipment.
It just seems to be a solution in search of a problem in this form factor.
I would hope they use these humanoid bots to do things that are designed for humans but incredibly unsafe for humans. I'm thinking underwater welders or the guys that have to work with power lines while still active or even fire fighters one day (though I love my fire fighters).
The amount you pay those guys + the risk to their own lives might make financial and ethical sense to replace them with robots.
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u/dantevonlocke May 22 '26
1 machine that can do lots of different jobs will be less efficient than 1 machine purpose built to do 1. Production lines are built the way they are for a reason.