Comments on: Industrial robotic pancake production video http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 21 May 2013 05:58:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-602881 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602881 They're going to end up frozen anyway, so just do that first and then drop them in a giant coin sorter - no moving parts. They’re going to end up frozen anyway, so just do that first and then drop them in a giant coin sorter – no moving parts.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-602882 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602882 I, for one, welcome our pancake robot overlords. I, for one, welcome our pancake robot overlords.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-602885 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602885 Ya - the Flexpicker system is designed for multiple purposes, not just pancakes. Basically anywhere theres an assembly line where randomly placed objects need to be handled by hand to place them back in some order is where they're looking to implement it. Pretty soon the only guy at the factory is going to be the one greasing the machinery. Kiss all your factory work goodbye humanity (but they're still going to require you find employment somehow...) Ya – the Flexpicker system is designed for multiple purposes, not just pancakes. Basically anywhere theres an assembly line where randomly placed objects need to be handled by hand to place them back in some order is where they’re looking to implement it. Pretty soon the only guy at the factory is going to be the one greasing the machinery. Kiss all your factory work goodbye humanity (but they’re still going to require you find employment somehow…)

]]> By: Stefan Jones http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-602886 Stefan Jones Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602886 There's something about pre-made waffles and pancakes that makes me feel sad. I get the same feeling when I see one of those shaggy animatronic toy dogs made for kids who can't have a real dog. Cripes, I think I need a pancake chaser. There’s something about pre-made waffles and pancakes that makes me feel sad. I get the same feeling when I see one of those shaggy animatronic toy dogs made for kids who can’t have a real dog.

Cripes, I think I need a pancake chaser.

]]> By: SharpieSniffer http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-603398 SharpieSniffer Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-603398 I worked for a company that invested heavily in robotic technology. You'd think that spending 250k on a robot to stack pancakes is too much but the robots save so much money in labor and waste that they pay for themselves. I was oddly fascinated by the flex picker pancake picker but then again, I used to enjoy going down to the production floor to watch our robots wind and package rubber tubing like clever little magicians. I worked for a company that invested heavily in robotic technology. You’d think that spending 250k on a robot to stack pancakes is too much but the robots save so much money in labor and waste that they pay for themselves.

I was oddly fascinated by the flex picker pancake picker but then again, I used to enjoy going down to the production floor to watch our robots wind and package rubber tubing like clever little magicians.

]]> By: Doug Nelson http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-602888 Doug Nelson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602888 If they're so concerned about hygiene, why do they have workers touching the pancakes without gloves on? (:48) If they’re so concerned about hygiene, why do they have workers touching the pancakes without gloves on? (:48)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-602897 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602897 Watch again starting at :50. Their "hygenic" process includes humans touching the pancakes with their bare hands. I'll have a short stack with swine syrup. Watch again starting at :50. Their “hygenic” process includes humans touching the pancakes with their bare hands.

I’ll have a short stack with swine syrup.

]]> By: muteboy http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-603922 muteboy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-603922 #56, magnetic flour. #56, magnetic flour.

]]> By: pishabh http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-602900 pishabh Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602900 I find the whole thing mildly erotic. Is that normal? I find the whole thing mildly erotic. Is that normal?

]]> By: neurolux http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-602902 neurolux Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602902 Just in time! I was craving some industrial robotic pancakes. Just in time! I was craving some industrial robotic pancakes.

]]> By: jimh http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-602905 jimh Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602905 If this thing can pick pickled peppers, I think Peter Piper is going to be pretty pissed. If this thing can pick pickled peppers, I think Peter Piper is going to be pretty pissed.

]]> By: robulus http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-602906 robulus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602906 So, the singularity is still some time away then. So, the singularity is still some time away then.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-604187 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-604187 Cyborg porn. Cyborg porn.

]]> By: eustace http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-603165 eustace Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-603165 I made the mistake of watching this video in the kitchen, where my homemade, servomotor-driven pancake flipper saw it; and expired in smoke and shame. I made the mistake of watching this video in the kitchen, where my homemade, servomotor-driven pancake flipper saw it; and expired in smoke and shame.

]]> By: CliffStoll http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-602916 CliffStoll Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602916 Rockwell Automation? These are the same people who built the Retro Encabulator! Good ol' Rockwell & Allen Bradley - experienced with prefabricated amulite with a panametric fan and 6 hydrocoptic marzelvanes. You can see this robotic pancake picker taking advantage of the modial interaction of magneto reluctance. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5125780462773187994# Rockwell Automation? These are the same people who built the Retro Encabulator! Good ol’ Rockwell & Allen Bradley – experienced with prefabricated amulite with a panametric fan and 6 hydrocoptic marzelvanes. You can see this robotic pancake picker taking advantage of the modial interaction of magneto reluctance.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5125780462773187994#

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-602919 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602919 Don't be so sure, Robulus! We've seen more innovation in the field of pre-fab pancake construction in the last 10 years than in the last 10 centuries. Don’t be so sure, Robulus! We’ve seen more innovation in the field of pre-fab pancake construction in the last 10 years than in the last 10 centuries.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-603687 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-603687 ABB = The same company who makes the robotic arms in the factory in Terminator Salvation! WAKE UP SHEEPLE ABB = The same company who makes the robotic arms in the factory in Terminator Salvation! WAKE UP SHEEPLE

]]> By: johnmcorg http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-602925 johnmcorg Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602925 These pancakes seem to be destined for UK stores (I believe Tesco is highlighted as a customer at one point). The poor Britishers don't have the same sort of access to pancakes as those of us in the colonies. These pancakes seem to be destined for UK stores (I believe Tesco is highlighted as a customer at one point). The poor Britishers don’t have the same sort of access to pancakes as those of us in the colonies.

]]> By: Heartfruit http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-602936 Heartfruit Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602936 Something about this video game me flashbacks to going to see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs with my five year old last week. Something about this video game me flashbacks to going to see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs with my five year old last week.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-602937 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602937 Ramping up for Soylent Green production, I see... Ramping up for Soylent Green production, I see…

]]> By: Monkeybaister http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-602938 Monkeybaister Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602938 I would hope that the flexpicker was originally created for some other purpose and that figuring out how to make a gravity or chute based system to work with overlapping pancakes with minimal destruction was proving to be too difficult. But it does look like overkill. I would hope that the flexpicker was originally created for some other purpose and that figuring out how to make a gravity or chute based system to work with overlapping pancakes with minimal destruction was proving to be too difficult.

But it does look like overkill.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-603198 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-603198 Lots of packaged food is touched by bare hands in the production process. When you enter a production area you have to wash your hands thoroughly and wear protective gear (clean white coats and hairnets, as seen in this video). "Swine syrup" is just fearmongering. Lots of packaged food is touched by bare hands in the production process. When you enter a production area you have to wash your hands thoroughly and wear protective gear (clean white coats and hairnets, as seen in this video). “Swine syrup” is just fearmongering.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-602943 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602943 So you have this manual inspection process where people pick up and set down pancakes. How about they create stacks of 4 while they're doing this? The conveyor moves at the speed of the manual process anyway so can the robots really be that much faster? So you have this manual inspection process where people pick up and set down pancakes. How about they create stacks of 4 while they’re doing this? The conveyor moves at the speed of the manual process anyway so can the robots really be that much faster?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-603712 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-603712 What I don't understand is how the robot actually picks up the pancakes. It seems suction could be a possibility but not a very likely one. What is the mechanism at work here? What I don’t understand is how the robot actually picks up the pancakes. It seems suction could be a possibility but not a very likely one. What is the mechanism at work here?

]]> By: spazzm http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-602948 spazzm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602948 Re: Overkill versus a gravity-based system. It's insanely hard to build gravity-based stacking systems, as things that fall off conveyors tend to tumble. A ramp would solve that, but it would have to be the exact correct height - not an easy task with something as non-uniform as pancakes. The stack waiting to accept a new pancake would also have to stop, then start again once the new pancake had been added, which would increase the risk of the stack toppling. Such a system would have very low tolerance of error, as any error would result in a pancake flipping over and disrupting the entire production line. Even if that only happens once for every 1000th stack, it would still induce significant delays and labour overhead. So yeah, cool stuff. Or at least that's what I thought, until I was captured and eaten by a marauding band of unemployed former pancake-stackers. Re: Overkill versus a gravity-based system.

It’s insanely hard to build gravity-based stacking systems, as things that fall off conveyors tend to tumble. A ramp would solve that, but it would have to be the exact correct height – not an easy task with something as non-uniform as pancakes.
The stack waiting to accept a new pancake would also have to stop, then start again once the new pancake had been added, which would increase the risk of the stack toppling.

Such a system would have very low tolerance of error, as any error would result in a pancake flipping over and disrupting the entire production line.

Even if that only happens once for every 1000th stack, it would still induce significant delays and labour overhead.

So yeah, cool stuff.

Or at least that’s what I thought, until I was captured and eaten by a marauding band of unemployed former pancake-stackers.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-602951 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602951 I giggled every time he said pancakes. I giggled every time he said pancakes.

]]> By: MichaelRN http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-602954 MichaelRN Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602954 Anything that increases the amount of pancakes in the world is OK with me. Anything that increases the amount of pancakes in the world is OK with me.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-602959 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602959 The new machine is suppose to increase sanitary conditions. At the start of the video you can clearly see each and every pancake is picked up by a bare handed worker - every pancake is touched! The new machine is suppose to increase sanitary conditions. At the start of the video you can clearly see each and every pancake is picked up by a bare handed worker – every pancake is touched!

]]> By: Alex_M http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-603220 Alex_M Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-603220 I've worked for ABB. My grandpa worked for ABB for over 50 years. I've never been more proud :) I’ve worked for ABB. My grandpa worked for ABB for over 50 years.

I’ve never been more proud :)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/01/industrial-robotic-p.html#comment-602970 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-602970 You know, I got my A-levels in Pancake picking, and now this fucker comes along and takes my job. Thanks, you evil mechanical engineers! You know, I got my A-levels in Pancake picking, and now this fucker comes along and takes my job. Thanks, you evil mechanical engineers!

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