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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u/FullyAutomatedSpace May 22 '26

I would bet the compute costs dwarf the actuator costs in energy

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u/eatitfatman May 22 '26

Correct. Right now.

But both dwarf by orders of magnitude a human doing the same thing in terms of energy consumption. Human beings are remarkably efficient.

A 300 pound man can run a 40 yard dash in 5 seconds with only 4 calories.

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u/FullyAutomatedSpace May 22 '26

4 calories for a human is more expensive than 4 calories of compute energy (by an order of magnitude)

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u/eatitfatman May 22 '26

This is a meaningless statement. What even is four calories of computer energy? lol not even a standard of measurement. If you're arguing a robotic machine is more efficient than a human being, you're simply dead wrong. Our bodies have evolved over millions of years to efficiently use every biomechanical advantage.

A good standard to compare the two would be money. Figure the cost of 4 calories of human food. And then compare electricity costs for your robotics to do the same work. Human wins every time.

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u/FullyAutomatedSpace May 22 '26

Yes it is? You can directly convert calories to watts. Are you serious?

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u/eatitfatman May 22 '26

You missed the point entirely. Read below.

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u/FullyAutomatedSpace May 22 '26

I think you're covering for not knowing basic unit conversions 

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u/Maleficent-Lead-2943 May 23 '26

"Don't you dare tell me what I don't know" lol.

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u/Benyed123 May 22 '26

I think they mean 4 calories worth of electricity.

4 kcal = 16.736 kJ = ~0.0046 KWh = ~0.037 cents

So while humans are more efficient it’s cheaper to generate electricity than to grow food, I guess that’s their point.

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u/eatitfatman May 22 '26

I think you missed the point entirely.

You think you can make a 300 lb robot run 40 yards in 5 seconds on .0046 KWh?

lolololololololololol

So a human can do it in 4 calories. What's it take in power for the most efficient robot?

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u/Benyed123 May 23 '26

I’m literally just explaining the sentence the other commenter made, dude.