Re: Back to work folks!

Randy M. Dumse wrote:

"Padu" <padu@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:t4mdneSgMp72SMrZRVn-uA@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060502/ap_on_sc/robot_challenge

Yes, I just heard about the third DARPA GC from one of my students who
saw it in the NYTimes today.

[RANT]
Let's see. Should we just go back to work? Or should we estimate the
cost to do this feat is what? at least $20 million or more for each
serious entrant? for a $2 million dollar prize?

You have to think the feds are really enjoying that differential between
what they paid last time and what they got, don't you? It's like a new
form of taxes on the robotic community. Dole out a couple million, and
soak up tens and tens of millions of blood sweat and tears right out of
the robotics community individual's lives.

I don't think you are viewing this right. Sure, I agree you have a point,
but in the end, it may spawn new profitable industries and R&D in this
country.




Maybe I'm looking at this wrong... Maybe I should try the same
tactics... Maybe I should offer a $.03 prize for the guy who can bake a
nice warm loaf of bread, made to my capricious change-on-the-fly
standards, that pleases me most.

Like all contests, the prize usually isn't more than the investment to win,
but winning and even making a good show, has benefits beyond the prize.


Suppose I'd get a couple dozen loaves offered up? Or would it be
immediately obvious that the combined efforts of all involved far
exceeded the value of the prize offered? Some how, I don't think amateur
bakers would be as gullible as us robot guys.

Yes, but, the robotic community can, hopefully, take what is learned and
build on it and eventually make the next tech boom!

[/RANT]

[DIFFERENT RANT]
Back to work folks? How about this for a twist. Let's get the government
to go back to work doing what the law requires? Enforce the borders, and
then see if there isn't a commercial demand for a robot that can do a
job an American worker "doesn't want".

There are no jobs that the American worker doesn't want. That is an economic
fallacy perpetuated by a political structure geared more towards
corporations than workers. There are jobs that require greater pay to be
worth doing. Allowing illegal workers to circumvent minimum wage and worker
protection laws, not to mention economic realities, allows corporations to
make greater profits and deny American workers legitimate work.

Rather than run silly contests
which drain the community, enforce the laws, and we'll suddenly find
ourselves awash in research funds to make robotics to handle or assist
in doing these jobs.

Actually, this is a great point. Have the corporations actually pay American
labor what the job is actually worth, and you will see R&D investment into
robotics to replace menial workers with technology. As long as illegals
performing menial work is cheaper and more effective than progress, there
will be no progress. The only reason why it is cheaper is because illegals
circumvent a century of laws regulating the power of companies over
workers.

At Denning Mobile Robotics, we were developing a robotic security guard. It
was ambitious at the time, 1985ish. We were in talks with a BIG security
company, and we were told point blank: it can't do much more than an
unskilled guard, unskilled guards are minimum wage, and the robot costs
more than the life insurance of a human guard. The cost of service life of
a robot was more than cost of a menial guard.



Illegal aliens are taking jobs: Low paying jobs perfect for robots. And
thereby eliminating high paying jobs from us who enjoy building robots.

Absolutely!!!


.

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