Posted on 05/18/2022 12:16:41 PM PDT by RomanSoldier19
Can collaborative robots work with humans?
Robots are filling more jobs than ever before, a trend that was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, a shrinking pool of willing workers and new innovations that reduced the cost of automation for smaller companies.
FAIRFIELD, Ohio — Editor's note: An earlier version of this story erroneously reported the cost of the cobot at the Fairfield Skyline.
A Skyline restaurant in Fairfield has a new server that rolls through a 12-hour shift while treating customers to songs like "Happy Birthday" and the "Skyline Time" jingle.
While it isn't getting paid hourly, it costs about $1,000 a month to lease this collaborative robot, or cobot, according to California-based Bear Robotics.
“We (leased) it so that it can help us move food,” said Robin Kurlas, co-owner of the Skyline franchise on Hicks Boulevard. “We’re fast-casual and we get the food out quickly.”
Cobots are an emerging form of automation that's designed to work safely with humans to boost productivity. At Skyline, that means fetching cheese from the kitchen when the steam-table staff is busy making coneys. Or hauling food to the table so servers can spend more time with customers. Or keeping extra crackers and hot sauce within reach when a waitress delivers the order.
(Excerpt) Read more at wcpo.com ...
Well, let’s just hope the machines don’t try to enslave humans.
“treating customers to songs like “Happy Birthday” and the “Skyline Time” jingle”.
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Might be tolerably cute the first time; a second time I’d leave a pile of scrap metal, bolts and integrated circuits for the help to clean up.
Well, at least they won’t urinate in your milkshake
With many restaurants cutting hours or decreasing seating due to being unable to hire wait staff.
And with many wait staff being absolutely awful.
It may be a huge win to have an automated wait staff and delivery.
And pushing the “ We are not raising prices, not cutting portions, AND YOU DO NOT NEED TO TIP THE ROBOT”
Could be a huge win for the sit down food places.
Walmart-buy $35 online and delivery is free.
Amazon it’s $25. Hope they have the drivers.
Ha! Good point. But seriously . . . I’ve heard a number of complaints from business owners, large and small (the businesses, not the owners) that they’re having a terrible time getting employees. When they finally hire someone, he’ll walk off the job a week later, with no explanation or apology. How are these people supporting themselves?!
WD40 tastes even better
Not to mention the push to artificially raise wages to $25/hour without a rise in productivity.
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