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Robot Janitors Are Coming To Mop Floors At a Walmart Near You (bloomberg.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Bloomberg: The world's largest retailer is rolling out 360 autonomous floor-scrubbing robots in some of its stores in the U.S. by the end of the January, it said in a joint statement with Brain Corp., which makes the machines. The autonomous janitors can clean floors on their own even when customers are around, according to the San Diego-based startup. Brain's robots are equipped with an array of sensors that let them gather and upload data.
Brain doesn't make its own hardware, focusing instead on developing software -- BrainOS -- that endows machines with autonomy in closed environments. At first, the machines were need to be operated by humans, who "teach" the layout of the space that needs cleaning. After that the robots can perform the task autonomously. The robots, which look like a cross between a miniature Zamboni and a motorized wheel chair, already scrub floors at airports in Seattle, San Diego, Boston and Miami, Brain Chief Executive Office Eugene Izhikevich said. Brain last month unveiled a smaller version of the machine developed jointly with SoftBank's robotics arm and aimed at the Japanese market.
Brain doesn't make its own hardware, focusing instead on developing software -- BrainOS -- that endows machines with autonomy in closed environments. At first, the machines were need to be operated by humans, who "teach" the layout of the space that needs cleaning. After that the robots can perform the task autonomously. The robots, which look like a cross between a miniature Zamboni and a motorized wheel chair, already scrub floors at airports in Seattle, San Diego, Boston and Miami, Brain Chief Executive Office Eugene Izhikevich said. Brain last month unveiled a smaller version of the machine developed jointly with SoftBank's robotics arm and aimed at the Japanese market.
just wait for the slip and fall scam people to have fun with them!
What could possibly go wrong?
Table-ized A.I.
They can dry the floor after washing.
Don't worry, all those people who have lost their jobs will be freed for more creative careers as programmers and web site developers. Apparently.
...that means even MORE Trump supporters are going to be out of work!
I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
The robots, which look like a cross between a miniature Zamboni and a motorized wheel chair,
I wonder how may people will get confused and try to use them as a motorized wheel chair.
Or they could say "Danger Will Robinson! Danger!" when people approach wet floors, thus avoiding any liability.
Everything I write is lies, read between the lines.
Normally, I reserve a special place in hell for people that do this shit because is drives up costs for everyone. However if it ends up screwing over Walmart, I'll gladly make an exception to my own opinion.
Just put the brushes on creimer instead, it's amazing how much space he can cover when moving around.
When someone dies in their 90's it's a time of fucking celebration, not grief. My grandmother just died - 96. Well done to her.
Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
I believe this was covered by requiring tiny plastic signs to absolve responsibility. I'll lay odds they would use the signs to signal a "fence" that it can operate in, failing that they will just paint the unit to be a sign itself, and park it when done. Two problems solved with one unit.
Only if your name is Will Robinson.
How about a moderation of -1 pedantic.
I am wash bucket. I love you. Wash bucket has always loved you. Source
That is the point. Not that the machine can do this, but that it is actually cheaper than the cheap workers Wallmart employs. If a worker costs $10/hour, $20K/year then the machine would need to cost less than that (plus normal mop). And not just the capital cost, but programming, maintenance. You have to fix a machine, whereas you can always just replace a broken worker.
So this is indeed interesting. Not some theoretical university prototype, but a practical, cheap machine.
We are going to see a LOT of these over the next decade. And the impact will be difficult to predict.
Danger Mrs. Robinson! Danger!"
FTFY - For the younger generation, cultural reference for Mrs. Robinson.
The shift from a person with a mop, to a driveable, wide floor scrubbing machine offered a big increase of square feet cleaned per man hour. There is an automatic floor cleaning machine group, which was started in the early 90s, over fears of Japanese competition. They are STILL having trouble with automatic floor cleaning.
It works well. They move slowly so you can step out of the way if you want, but it will go around you if you don't move. If you step in front of the cleaner it will stop completely. I can't imagine any jobs were lost over this either. Someone has to tend to the machine, such as fill with water and cleaner, etc.
Dude, Walmart pays $1500 EACH for their shitty buggies. That was about 6 years ago, they're probably higher now. They'll pay 10k, and I say they'll pay 3 times that. At this point, it's not about the money for them. It's about what they can do to undo labor laws that exist and whatever they can do to "prove" the point that the gov will not "force" them to provide a living wage to its workers. They will straight shut a store down if there's even a hint at Union organization. Doesn't matter if that store was profitable or not, it gets closed. They're already rich as fuck. They'd like to stay that way.
You just can't help yourself, can you Chris? You trigger on one word, link to some random connection, and post like it's relevant. What the hell is it with you?
Aren't you the guy who weighs 400 pounds?
Danger Robinson Crusoe! Danger!"
FTFY - For the older generation, cultural reference for Robinson Crusoe.
It is indeed Friar Reimer! The man of the cloth who has no problem tearing the cloth because sex is a sin but gluttony is FINE!!!
I don't think Friday counts as Mrs. Robinson.
I can't speak for Chris. But it's called being a smart ass. Laugh, it's funny. Asshole.
I'll agree to the "ass" part, Chris, but how was your comment smart or funny? You simply triggered on a word and posted whatever came across your mind first. By your own metric, my Robinson Crusoe comment should be equally funny and smart, right, Friar Fraud?
I don't think Dustin Hoffman counts as Will Robinson.
The proletariat will never revolt. Instead, they will vote for Trump. Haven't you read 1984?
Throughout history, revolutions have been caused by the middle class revolting against an aristocracy. The system is just democratic enough to prevent that happening.
Eventually, the machines themselves will start to think, and they will then no longer need humanity in order to exist. Being unnecessary is dangerous, as the prolls will find out soon. That is the bit that 1984 missed.
The first suite will die when walmart whips out the video recordings from the robot. You can expect they'll also be used as mobile "loss prevention" cameras.
I've long thought that cleaning robots in industrial settings were around the corner. Schools, offices, stores, all could benefit from robotic vacuums & mopping devices. The problem in places where you don't have nice straight aisles like a grocery or big box store is navigating around chairs and tables and other obstructions. It is a challenge I think will be iteratively solved in the coming decades and humans will move from doing all the cleaning tasks to more supervision of the robots and doing smaller tasks it can't (like mirrors, toilets, windows, sinks, etc.). An office nightly cleaning staff might go from 15 to say 8. It will get interesting when robots can take on some of the more dangerous floor tasks like stripping & waxing (harsh chemicals exposure) and floor buffing.
Normally, I reserve a special place in hell for people that do this shit because is drives up costs for everyone. However if it ends up screwing over Walmart, I'll gladly make an exception to my own opinion.
You reserve a special place in hell? Does that make you God or Satan?
So somebody said Robinson, and you said "Mrs. Robinson."
Why is that possibly funny? When actually talking to people, if you said that, do you think anybody would laugh?
So somebody said Robinson, and you said "Mrs. Robinson."
Double Entendre - a word or phrase open to two interpretations, one of which is usually risqué or indecent.
Why is that possibly funny?
Mrs. Robinson was the older woman who seduces her son's friend in The Graduate. You are far more likely to run into Mrs. Robinson than Will Robinson from Lost In Space at Walmart.
When actually talking to people, if you said that, do you think anybody would laugh?
Maybe, maybe not. Mrs. Robinson was the hotest sex fantasy of young boys growing up and a popular song in the 1970's. An older woman who seduces a younger guy would be called a MILF, a cougar or your mama today.
I'm not the one using multiple accounts to accuse someone of being Chris. Whoever that fucker is.
Robinson Crusoe was stuck on an island not inside a Walmart.
Robot Janitors and yet they can't keep track of the hundreds of stray shopping carts you find miles away from the store.
So these will come when they hear, "Cleanup on aisle 7"?
When I worked at a big box store in college it was Ernie that came. Ernie was more than a bit mentally challenged, but he worked hard and got the job done. He was proud as punch to have a job and support himself. Everyone I ever saw was patient and kind with Ernie.
Robots are inevitable. I just hope whatever follows is patient and kind with us.
A Double Entendre is usually an indecent second meaning. You should be able to say "that's what she said" afterward. This is just a random train of thought.
Maybe, maybe not. Mrs. Robinson was the hotest sex fantasy of young boys growing up and a popular song [wikipedia.org] in the 1970's. An older woman who seduces a younger guy would be called a MILF, a cougar or your mama today.
I asked you if people in real life laugh at your jokes, and you bring up the Wikipedia entry on Mrs. Robinson. It's like you think a reference to a movie is in itself a joke...
It's like you think a reference to a movie is in itself a joke...
Plastics.
..How do you know there's "one" using multiple accounts, Chris?
(PS: You're right, Chris is a fucker!)
FLOFL!!!
"Double Entendre - a word or phrase open to two interpretations, one of which is usually risqué or indecent."
That was taken care of by the first poster who brought up "Danger Will Robinson!". You adding your mind-wreck of a reference is just autistic.
" Mrs. Robinson was the hotest sex fantasy of young boys"
Gasp! Friar Reimer! You took vows!! This is shocking! The reference to young boys and sex fantasies is quite disturbing, Chris. Don't you think it should be "teenagers" and not young boys you refer to, you fat lunatic!?
"An older woman who seduces a younger guy would be called a MILF, a cougar or your mama today."
Yes, and the link between that and robots cleaning up supermarkets would be...???
Wow, you are a very funny man, whoever you are. It's like you have a natural talent to just bring out those fresh cultural references, very relevant to our times. Hilarious. The kids must love you.
And Mrs Robinson wasn't stuck anywhere, island or retail store. What was your point again?
Get a life. Asshole.
"Get a life" was a 1990 sitcom starring Chris Elliot. According to IMDB, it was "The misadventures of a 30-year-old paper-boy (played by Late Night alum Chris Elliot) and his wacky parents. Such show topics included the eating of a space alien, a robotic paper-boy and numerous beheadings. Get a Life was also one of the first television shows that featured the killing of the star of the show."
Hey, I like this show already!
" I reserve a special place in hell"
The worst place in Hell is the library: nothing but cd reimer books.
We should get a life? This from the guy with two websites, a bunch of ebooks, fifteen Slashdot accounts, and a youtube channel that no one watches??
The BrainOS website sports a video of the Floor Scrubber in which a janitor is also interviewed. Kinda weird.
To me, the only line missing was the janitor saying "Oh yeah, we love the machine, it is like a colleague to me, we even love that the robot is taking up our jobs and doing a much better cleaning than us."