Will Robots Take within The Construction Industry?
How often have we heard politicians promising to bring manufacturing jobs back to the United States? Perhaps I am over thinking it, but unless you are manufacturing some really expensive items it is going to be challenging to offer American workers minimum wage to stand on an assembly line and put together key chains and such. Come to consider it, there are several quite expensive items like all of Apple's products which have low material price and sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars. Those elements could be great pay workers a decent wage and to manufacture in the us. Wait, when they can pay a couple of hundred dollars a month to do it overseas, why make here? And and so the issue continues.
As sales manager for mill work installations and Union store fixture I comprehend more than ever significant labor unions are to our work force. With many Americans working harder than ever we find many corporations cutting shifts to less than 30 -hours so they are ineligible for health benefits. We're becoming a nation of part time workers, which is not going to sustain us live the American dream and to raise families.
As a result of Labor Unions like the International Brotherhood of Carpenters, which we are members of, there are lots of safeguards. A fair wage for a day's work by skilled workers who are - trained and focused on quality and safety.
We talk about the future of our children along with the new generation in regards to what types of occupations will soon be available to them and frequently sit around. Technology comes up a lot. It's a growth industry, not only in the USA but abroad as well. With all the world becoming smaller (thanks to the net) it also becomes more competitive and price conscious.
Computers and robots have replaced many production jobs. A bottling plant for a drink firm can replace 100 workers that are human using only 2 human workers and a run of robotic stations . More folks jobless by technology. Robotics have been studied by many young college grads in the expectations to create a career in that field. You'll find companies that are really designing robots capable of building robots!
Now let us get onto construction! Well, I felt the same way until I studied the robotics industry and discovered a startling new notion: Robotic construction workers!
Yes, it is authentic, according to Science Journal, a prototype of a new robot referred to as "termes" continues to be developed that may one day revolutionize the construction industry. Engineers provided building patterns to the robots, and after that left them alone. The TERMES built the constructions by observing and reacting to the other robots around them--with no further instruction from humans. Since Engineers operate alone, the exact same construction plan could be implemented by a dozen TERMES or a hundred of them. The prototype TERMES use assembled bricks to construct towers, castles, and pyramids. The researchers say they may also handle simple jobs like laying sandbags down before floodings.
Visualize construction sites where robotics replace human workers. Carpenters and construction workers can be displaced by the robots and the websites requiring only minimum oversight.
The truth is the fact that they have successfully created the beginning phases of this technology's development, while it is still in image. While those of us middle-aged carpenters may not have to compete with R2D2 taking over our jobs, future generations may very well need to deal with this particular new technology that may endanger their support.
My advice to those up and comers in the industry....become a shop steward to help you watch over the robot workers!
There is an interesting video put out by Harvard that shows these Termes in action: http://youtu.be/LFwk303p0zY
About the author: Martin Chase is National Sales Director at Store Force, Inc., leading Union store fixture installers providing clients with fixture and mill work installations around the country. Martin can be reached at 631-672-3150 or by email at: unioninstallers@gmail.com
