Post #2588451

2026-04-28 07:56 UTC

Is it the case that humanoid form genuinely is optimum for this task? I just find that very hard to believe. Or is it that designing optimum form for baggage handling machines, or re-designing baggage handling systems to need fewer humans, is too expensive, and humanoid robots already exist?

Replies (3)

@ergative@wandering.shop 2026-04-28 07:56

But all the videos I've seen of humanoid robots doing human-centered tasks (like folding laundry) suggest that humanoid robots are TERRIBLE at these sorts of open-ended tasks. What, exactly, are they going to be doing? These days, whenever I see ANYTHING that involves something a ten-year-old would think is 'cool', I tend to think it's a gimmick.

Open ##2588452
@ergative@wandering.shop 2026-04-28 07:57

But if it's a gimmick, what's the ultimate goal? Attracting funding from dumb, easily-impressed investors? What would that accomplish? This is a response to a labour shortage. More money wouldn't fix the absence of people, except by building machines to replace them. And in that case, wouldn't you want to build GOOD machines?

Open ##2588453
@pozorvlak@mathstodon.xyz 2026-04-28 09:50

@ergative@wandering.shop I can believe that - or at least, I can believe that it's easier to use humanoid robots that are already under development than to develop something ideal for this use-case from scratch. Luggage varies a lot in shape, size and mass, but all of it is designed to be lifted by human beings.

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