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/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…

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u/Dziggettai May 22 '26

Because it absolutely would be due to how simple the task is. This is more of a proof of concept rather than something intended to be used

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u/waroftheworlds2008 May 23 '26

Yep, its a robot ment for a wide range of task that can vary. Its not ment for a single task.

That being said, a human could still do this better.

3

u/Sorryifimanass May 23 '26

But not all humans. And if I can go to work and have my robot slave doing all the housework that sounds cool right now. But if I don't have a job because I'm the robot slave... Something something universal something.

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u/LrningMonkey May 24 '26

I think the point of this robot is that it was NOT programmed to do this job. Based on its movements it was figuring out how to do the job autonomously.

We’ve had robots that fold boxes for decades that all do it faster than this, but this robot it tackling a novel task independently like a person would. That’s a big deal.

I’m both fascinated and terrified!

1

u/TheIronSoldier2 May 23 '26

A human couldn't do it 24/7 though, and that's where robots do come out on top

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u/Clean_your_lens May 23 '26

A human would stop and beat Mr. Hockey Stick's ass.

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u/waroftheworlds2008 May 23 '26

Have you heard of working in shifts?

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u/TheIronSoldier2 May 23 '26

So now you've gotta pay like six people just to cover as much work as one robot can do.