Comments on: Robot System Could Drastically Reduce Herbicide Use

By: ECA

ECA — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 07:06:30 +0000

Still want the 12 year olds out in the fields, to learn about life, and work…
It was the old way of doing things,
NOW they cant work unless they are 16..

By: Mike Voice

Mike Voice — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 04:57:38 +0000

12 If you think anyone’s about to replace $5/ hour farm labor with telepresence machines each linked to a white middle class dimwit behind a computer terminal, you’re missing a basic grasp of earth-planet economics.

Don’t worry.

It was just a whimsical thought I wanted to share…

I do think it would be funny to see, though, when driving past a field.

By: ECA

ECA — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 23:59:01 +0000

Lets get our 12 year olds OUT in the fields to learn about the BASICS of life…

By: Angel H. Wong

Angel H. Wong — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 23:57:14 +0000

#12

I agree. Not everyone can afford even one of these machines.

By: Franco

Franco — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 21:40:00 +0000

#9 “So, there would be a human operator for each one in the field.”

Huh? No, this is not even close to centaurbots. If you think anyone’s about to replace $5/ hour farm labor with telepresence machines each linked to a white middle class dimwit behind a computer terminal, you’re missing a basic grasp of earth-planet economics.

By: John Henri Allyn

John Henri Allyn — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 19:53:37 +0000

Anything is better than the illegal immigrants that poop in the field.

By: BS

BS — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 19:10:22 +0000

Isn’t this the sort of thing that brought about skynet?

By: Mike Voice

Mike Voice — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 18:55:16 +0000

5 This is a cool use of tech

Looking at Alix’s link again, I see the Centaurbots aren’t really “robots” but “telepresence” devices…

So, there would be a human operator for each one in the field.

Hmmm, interesting questions:

How many people would be interested in “working the fields” if they could do it from home? Or a site near the farm?

Picking lettuce or grapes while sitting in a comfy chair, listening to some tunes, occasionally sipping on a cold one??

No sore back from kneeling over over endless rows of strawberry plants?

Cleaning-out the barn without the stench of cow/horse/pig $hit??

Instead of people working in large call centers – annoying us during dinner – we could have large telepresence centers full of people harvesting crops!

NASA could help fund the cost of the equipment as a way to get “real world” feedback on bot durability, and software performance.

By: Franco

Franco — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 17:21:19 +0000

#5 – won’t need illegals? I got a news flash for you, the way automation is going, before too long we won’t need legals either.

By: ECA

ECA — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 16:45:17 +0000

Yea, but I dont think they can shoot at the roots to kill Borers or grubs.

Why not use Chickens, or other NATURAL animals that Love BUGS.

By: Cognito

Cognito — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 16:35:03 +0000

Free the bug hunting robots

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 15:30:42 +0000

4. Then maybe we wont need illegals to do it for those “who dont want those jobs”. This is a cool use of tech.

By: Mike Voice

Mike Voice — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 14:32:02 +0000

On a larger scale, they’re also describing a robot that could be used for harvesting and planting.

Makes me think of that NASA “Centaurbot” SmartAlix posted a picture of, yesterday.
http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=7490

Interesting to see a group of those moving through the fields at harvest time, wouldn’t it?

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 14:31:56 +0000

yea, put a laser on them and let them blast the bugs they see too!

By: nilidsid

nilidsid — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 14:26:02 +0000

I’m ready for bug hunting robots.