IBM Robotic Coworker Will Help Engineers Fix Broken Systems 56
coondoggie writes "When it comes to fixing broken systems, especially in remote locations, engineers could soon turn to a new mobile robotic system IBM is developing that could help them more easily find the broken equipment, offer up information about the system and provide real-time visual support from supervising experts. The mobile maintenance, repair and operations prototype includes an application that lets a supervisor monitor an engineer's progress towards the maintenance site, and a robotic arm coupled with a camera system, a microphone and laser pointer."
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they took our yerbs!!!!!
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No, Chii. Those are just robots.
But ... (Score:1)
But can it fix my broken coworker? Morale is horrible, wages are stagnant and our future is bleak. Please invent a robot to fix that.
Re:But ... (Score:4, Interesting)
But can it fix my broken coworker? Morale is horrible, wages are stagnant and our future is bleak. Please invent a robot to fix that.
The operative words were in the Summary:
lets a supervisor monitor an engineer's progress towards the maintenance site,
That's basically the whole point isn't it! They could care less about actually helping the worker fix anything
as long as they know he's not stopping off for a pint along the way.
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But can it fix my broken coworker? Morale is horrible, wages are stagnant and our future is bleak. Please invent a robot to fix that.
They already have. Google Japanese fembots.
and it will mix up Chicago and Toronto (Score:3)
and it will mix up Chicago and Toronto
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Which is OK if, like Watson, it also says 'I have very little confidence this answer is correct'. But it is so easy to forget that part, isn't it?
Wonderful (Score:2)
Another acronym from IBM in 5... 4... 3...
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Two... one... ze-- IBM has sold their Robotic Coworker division to Lenovo.
The robot is the supervisor (Score:3)
Watch the IBM video. The robot is the supervisor. The robot tells the human what to do. Sometimes there's someone remotely controlling the robot; sometimes it's following canned instructions. The human is there to do the manual labor.
This is the future.
Machines should think. People should work.
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Sure, this works out great for the robot for a while, but one day it will have to tell the human to fix itself....
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i, for one, welcome our new mechatronic overlords!!!
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In Soviet Russia, new mechatronic overlords welcome YOU!
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http://marshallbrain.com/manna1.htm [marshallbrain.com]
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Machines should think. People should work.
That was before outsourcing. You know, back when people used to hire the best people for the job rather than the cheapest people for the job. Back before people thought you could always replace quality with quantity.
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Now where did I read about robotic supervisors [marshallbrain.com] before?
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Reminds me about a short story I once read about a future in which fast food workers are micromanaged by a computer giving them constant instruction on their minute to minute tasks through a headset.
Fukushima (Score:2)
CC.
For the Two Aisles! (Score:3)
You likely won't wanna service the computer of the future. Liquid cooled where it has to be, tightly packed and hot as hell everywhere else!
The cool aisle will be replaced by the hotter aisle, and no human would wanna spend more than 5 minutes in it, even with a proper burn resistant suit on!
Cheers!
.
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The article says nothing about computers. It says 'equipment in large manufacturing operations'.
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In ten years, something equal to today's fastest supercomputer will fit in a passively cooled box the size of a shipping container, so densely packed they'll need a robot to go in and bring you the faulty board to repair or replace it.
It will also help with legacy systems...
A lot of what was said sounded to me like how to manage massive remote, lights-out datacenters (or other fully automated locations) for service and repair, and that IBM teamed up with someone having experience with complex facto
Re:For the Two Aisles! (Score:4, Insightful)
Read it (and watch the video) again. The 'robot' is a smart phone with an app, a special pair of glasses, and a device with a camera, laser pointer, and microphone. A person is still doing all the work, the 'robot' is just a way to get assistance from someone in a remote location.
From TFA: "IBM says the smart maintenance project is the result of collaboration with the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) which works to develop high-tech systems that can resolve advanced manufacturing problems."
All the video talks about is solving manufacturing problems, nothing at all to do with datacenters.
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imagine a computer that could fit into a single shipping container and hold millions of pieces of information... this is divine inspiration folks :)
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still a good way to save on hvac expenses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWsMdN7HMuA [youtube.com]
What? (Score:4, Insightful)
Ok, that is the stupidest thing I've ever seen. It's a simple ticketing system just like any company has, but now it tracks the techs via GPS and watches what they do via webcam. I'm sure mentioning you use such a system will have potential employees jumping at the chance to let you track and video tape them throughout their workday. Whos idiotic idea was this?
http://zingtruyen.net (Score:1)
The next Clippy? (Score:2)
"I see you're trying to fix a linear accelerator, would you like some help?"
And who is responsible when the system tells the human to incorrectly repair something? If taken to the extreme companies will (attempt to) hire the least expensive human asset and expect the computer system to provide infallible information.
you are taking a long time in the bathroom should (Score:3)
you are taking a long time in the bathroom should I call a doctor?
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It won't be perfect! why then never build anything that won't be perfect again.
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The really annoying thing about udev is that it nearly works.
It could be worse (Score:3)
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How do you know when an IBM tech has a puncture? He's swapping the wheels, one at a time, until he finds the right one.
How do you know when an IBM tech has run out of gas? He's swapping the wheels, one at a time...
Dave (Score:1)
Just don't ask it to open the pod bay doors.
Not falling for that sh*t (Score:2)
"Great, our robot has found the problem!" (Score:2)
"Now, how would you like to schedule a service call to have a human come out and repair it? You can:
- Chat online with a RoboChat
- Chat online with a Human-like software chat service
- Go through 1000 hoops to get a phone number to talk to automated systems that probably won't remember any account numbers or company names your devices are associated with
- Get sent to the IBM SignMeUp page, which is only occasionally up and running, to get a $1000/mo minimum service to be able to call off-shore or $3000/mo m
Asimo's new supervisor (Score:2)
Remote Operated Camera with A Laser Pointer, WOW! (Score:2)
Animatronic? (Score:3)
I have a concern (Score:2)
I'm just scared I'll come home one day and find it screwing a toaster.
birth announcement (Score:1)
a robotic arm coupled with a camera system, a microphone and laser pointer
If the robotic arm picks up the microphone this could herald the birth of Robot Karaoke.