The Next Step in Automation? A Robot That Picks Apples – Futurism

In Brief As automation pushes forward, robots are being designed for just about everything. Now, one startup has developed a robot that will be able to pick apples "at rates that match crews of tens of people." A New Wave of Robots

We are living in the age of automation. Robots are capable of handling tasks previously reserved forlawyers,doctors, shoe manufacturers, and just about every profession in between. And now,Abundant Robotics, a startupdeveloping leading edge robots for agriculture, has created a robot that picks apples.

The inspiration for theinvention came as a result of the current political landscape. The focus onimmigration policy has left many worried that there simply wont be enough immigrant workers to meet the demand. The growing trend of fewer people working on farms has led to quite an issue with production, and apples obviously cant be sold if theyre never picked.

This led Abundant Robotics to develop arobot that can, according to CEO and co-founder Dan Steere, identify, pluck, and place apples into a crate with roughly the same accuracy and care asa human. However, unlike a human, a robot doesnt need to eat or sleep, and it can work at, well, inhuman speeds. In an interview with MIT Technology Review, Steere has even said, Our commercial system will pick at rates that match crews of tens of people.

Some may see this development as cause for concern, another example of automation leading to job loss. And yes, as more and more robots capable of human action are developed, we might be replaced, in a way. However, while increased automation could lead toproblems that we are looking for solutions to, a lot of good will come with it as well.

Robots often make life safer. From the operating table to the harsh conditions of working on a farm, robotic replacements could increase productivity while reducing risk. If we promote research, new jobs will follow, and if we emphasize education funding, current citizens and those immigrating to the U.S. will be able to take advantage of those alternative work opportunities.

So long as we keep promoting progress in a way that helps humanity as a whole, positive change will follow. Steere puts it into historical perspective: Look at the history of agriculture going back to the 1800s. Machinery has changed how harvestings done, and huge benefits to society have come from that.

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The Next Step in Automation? A Robot That Picks Apples - Futurism