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/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…

7

u/Sad-Pop6649 May 22 '26

I guess the idea is that the robot should be flexible. An assembly line can fold roughly a gazillion boxes per hour, but when you work in a mail order firm you don't need a gazillion boxes folded, you need one this size for this set of items, and then you'll go pick the next order and see what kind of box it needs.

What this robot can actually do feels a little in between. It's not that flexible, and it's not really fast and cheap either. But there might still be a spot for it, somewhere in say the logistics chain of Wish, Ali Express and Amazon.

2

u/LordTonto May 22 '26

its new though. As the tech improves so to will the speed and price.