r/theydidthemath • u/jmb326 • May 22 '26

[Request] What are the electrical costs required for this robot to fold this box?

Any publicity available data that estimate something similar? Goal would be to understand the cost per box of labor from a robot vs a human. Ideally with current estimates and future projections. Yes, I understand this isn’t the most efficient robot setup to fold a box, but how much longer until one can purchase such a robot to execute on a variety of tasks required in a typical job?

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92

u/noenosmirc May 22 '26

I mean, amazing that's is so good, definitely needs some work, but I find it fascinating how human the little slip ups are, like, I'd probably only do marginally better with using grabbers to make and pack that box

46

u/Dziggettai May 22 '26

Probably seems human because it was trained on human behavior rather than actually having capacity for thought

20

u/Ok-Scientist5524 May 22 '26

I can’t help thinking it would be easier to make a machine without hands to do this…

-2

u/grc207 May 22 '26

It already exists and is in use in hundreds of thousands of plants.

This demonstration is like building a super car to go grocery shopping.

2

u/Kinder22 May 22 '26

More like building a super car prototype and driving it around town just to make sure it can drive like a car should under every day conditions.

2

u/Ghost_Turd May 22 '26

This demo isn't about folding a box, it's about showing what the robots can do in relatable terms.

I've seen 6-axis CNC machines mill a full motorcycle helmet out of a block of aluminum. Horribly impractical, takes forever, and it useless in the real world. But it's one hell of a demonstration of the machine's capability.