Cue Charlie Chaplin and Lucille Ball...
February 12, 2015 12:42 AM   Subscribe

 
man what's with all this buzz marketing for battery robots lately
posted by DoctorFedora at 12:48 AM on February 12, 2015


That's all fine an well, at least until we become the batteries.
posted by Hicksu at 12:55 AM on February 12, 2015 [2 favorites]


Unlike Lucy, the bots did not have to eat any of the batteries.
posted by Cranberry at 12:55 AM on February 12, 2015 [3 favorites]


When these robots are retooled for sex I'm going to want the same precision and efficiency.
posted by fredludd at 1:03 AM on February 12, 2015 [4 favorites]


pancake stacking robot

I love watching these...
posted by dowcrag at 1:15 AM on February 12, 2015 [2 favorites]


At the end of the narration: “The batteries are circulated from the outbound conveyor back to the inbound, and the cycle repeats.”

Thus, with this totally unnecessary explanation, the technology/sales demo transforms into a metaphor for the futility of life.
posted by D.C. at 1:37 AM on February 12, 2015 [14 favorites]


This is hypnotic. And the narrator's voice is so perfect it's allllllllmost satire.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 1:58 AM on February 12, 2015


what's wrong with me that I want to put googly eyes on the robots
posted by these are science wands at 2:30 AM on February 12, 2015 [11 favorites]


absolutely nothing
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 2:41 AM on February 12, 2015 [1 favorite]


They should get a couple of those for the zipper factory!
posted by Wrinkled Stumpskin at 2:53 AM on February 12, 2015


what's wrong with me that I want to put googly eyes on the robots

Keep a supply of googly eyes on your person at all times
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 3:19 AM on February 12, 2015 [3 favorites]


pancake robot: we're gonna need a bigger plate
posted by idiopath at 3:42 AM on February 12, 2015


That video cries out for a Werner Herzog voice-over, D.C.
posted by netdpb at 5:45 AM on February 12, 2015 [3 favorites]


Pintchertech Online Lightactive D3-50 Operator (POLDO) system revision 4.5-build54678 appreciates this video. Please insert more content into this consumer unit's media hole at the next interrupt.
posted by Poldo at 5:53 AM on February 12, 2015 [1 favorite]


You MUST see this.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:00 AM on February 12, 2015 [10 favorites]


Can't this problem be solved with a sorting slide and a water wheel like mechanism?
posted by Agent_X_ at 6:08 AM on February 12, 2015


what's wrong with me that I want to put googly eyes on the robots

While you're wondering about that -somebody, somewhere is figuring out a way to put guns in the hands of these robots.
posted by bonobothegreat at 6:33 AM on February 12, 2015


MetaFilter: the batteries are circulated from the outbound conveyor back to the inbound and the cycle repeats
posted by The Bellman at 6:48 AM on February 12, 2015 [1 favorite]


Yeah, so, here's the thing: There's basically no reason for this to exist if you just narrow the chute so the batteries aren't all random on the conveyor. Then you can just separate your groups with a simple little pusher dealy.

(When I worked in the cinder block factory, most of my time was spent sitting by the cuber -- the thing that rotates the blocks into a stable pattern to be stacked on skids -- making sure the blocks went in straight. It was not an exciting job.)
posted by Sys Rq at 6:54 AM on February 12, 2015


It's a tech demo. It shows that the robots can handle randomly orientated incoming goods (provided that they have a good contrast, simple shape, and an easily recognisable end). Yes, that problem is trivial, but it's a reasonable demonstration of the speed and accuracy of the pick and place in a best-case scenario.

In this instance you can use guide rails and the like - the problem is trivial (getting the end with the connectors facing the right direction is a little tricky, but not especially so). You can't always use guide rails, or you don't want to (that problem with stacking pancakes that dowcrag linked is a prime example).
posted by YAMWAK at 7:07 AM on February 12, 2015 [2 favorites]


You laugh now
posted by lalochezia at 7:22 AM on February 12, 2015


I think about the pre painted minis that come pressed into plastic holders in a box. No real way to use a slide chute on those as bits are sticking out all over and the shapes are random in all three dimensions.
posted by Mitheral at 7:46 AM on February 12, 2015


Who needs actually human workers? They have health and family issues?
Humans are only useful as consumers now.

Let the Robot Revolution begin.
posted by Flood at 8:32 AM on February 12, 2015


Mute the narration, and you can almost hear the two robots muttering softly to one another.
"Let's pick up a little temp work. You and your big ideas."
"I didn't know. How could I know?"
"Shut up, the boss is coming back."
posted by Flexagon at 8:34 AM on February 12, 2015 [3 favorites]


Am I the only one who was disturbed that the battery polarity wasn't uniform?
posted by plinth at 9:27 AM on February 12, 2015 [1 favorite]


The batteries are circulated from the outbound conveyor back to the inbound, and the cycle repeats

If you squint, you can see that the robots are named Sisyphus-1 and Sisyphus-2.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 10:13 AM on February 12, 2015 [2 favorites]


I prefer my robots slow and klutzy.
posted by Atom Eyes at 11:28 AM on February 12, 2015


I would pay good money for a Lomaxian survey album of Industrial Robotic Sales Video Soundtracks.
posted by creade at 3:13 PM on February 12, 2015


Second robot has a less interesting job than first robot, I feel.

Also, I liked how the grouping-by-4 usually used one existing battery as an anchor to move the other three onto; except for a few instances (for example at ~0.50) where there isn't enough room and it has to move all four.

(Also also: the demo batteries are deliberately painted to (a) be reminiscent of Duracells, and (b) make it easier for the vision system to distinguish the top. Also why the conveyor is spotless white.)
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 11:49 AM on February 15, 2015


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