I’m not sure what to think about robotic farms Dear Diary, that’s why I’m bringing the question to you.
While we are still contemplating the pros and cons of autonomous vehicles that don’t require human drivers (sort of), there are smart people out in the technological wilderness, devising ways in which the farms of the future, won’t require a human presence.
Old MacDonald is becoming Old Mac App.
There already exists in Japan, one robotic agricultural operation that produces 39,000 heads of lettuce every day from conveyor belts stacked four storeys high. The hydroponic-inspired robots collect and ship automatically and send out signals if an intervention is required. I suppose that happens when one of the conveyor belts gets tired or lonely.
Impressive or scary?
We learned long ago you don’t require dirt to grow food.
This robotic thing has extended to include the dairy industry, through necessity. Fortunately, the new world order in the dairy industry is still using actual cows, but I’m not sure for how long.
The cows wear electronic collars that monitor and indicate when they are ready for milking. It seems the cows are all right with this automation. The first experiment with 70 cows and no people, went well, we were told.
It was an industry crying out for a solution, since there aren’t too many people left in the developed world who are willing to rise before dawn to tend to milking duties, or tend to a herd every evening. So, let the robots do it.
The article I read did not go into any detail as to what happened to the … you know, the cow pies and stall cleaning. I guess the robots could do that too and they would be immune to barnyard odours. No reason why R2D2 can’t be Pooper Scooper 2.
Over in Killarney wheat and canola crops are being handled with robotic tractors, combines and grain wagons. When the hopper is full, the signal goes to the truck with the cart to come and pick up the product and take it to the bin. No human required.
It cost $35,000 to install the computer works, and the monitors have indicated it is more efficient than the human farmer too.
All right then … but can the robot spit on the ground, adjust the farming cap three times to wipe a brow in the hot sun and swear effectively enough when the blades get jammed? Those who grow the lettuce, say they’re going to work something out for tomatoes too, but they’ll have to change the shape and style. Watch for square tomatoes.
So this is making me think waaay too hard now as to what jobs really are. What is the definition of a job now?
Is there a robot out there THAT will write a column for me? Or should I say, WHO will write a column for me? In other words, what are they?
What are humans going to be used for once the robots take over the everyday jobs we have wished to abandon for years now? What will be left for us?
Do we design more robots to do even more of our jobs? Will we need money? Or does a person residing on this globe in 2092 just need to be able to enjoy life with something resembling a guaranteed minimum income with no definition of rich and poor? Will that person just get a lot of robotic-built things for free? What will the person do to stay amused? Trump and that little North Korean guy, could be gone by then.
Can robots of tomorrow clear customs when those autonomous trucks carrying robot-built lettuce arrive at the Canadian border? Will we need Canada?
And do cows need a human touch every once in awhile?
Somebody has to care, don’t they? OK, a robot can do that too.
