[robotresearcher]

We are currently much better than lime jello at these tasks, too. "Currently" implies an expectation that things will change, which is a claim that needs some kind of argument in support. Rhetoric alone doesn't advance the discussion.

[thenewbtg]

We are in the midst of a massive trend towards automation and robotics. Every year, we are seeing more tasks and more jobs successfully completed by robots, and more and more robots completing "work" tasks more efficiently than humans.

I am not qualified to statistically prove the automation trend, but I believe you are being obtuse in rejecting the premise that said trend exists at all.

[robotresearcher]

Qworg said:

"Its amazing how difficult these problems are. This type of work relies on things that humans are optimized to do - forage and produce food. We are arguably the best robot for some of these tasks."

It really is amazing how difficult some of these problems are. That was the point of GP's post. By saying "currently" you wave away that point without addressing it.

While robots are getting better, there are lots of things we take for granted about human and animal competence and that we have made very slow progress on replicating in robots.

It's much more fun to think and talk about those tricky bits than to simply expect them to be solved.

I don't need statistical proof that there is an automation trend. I'd like an argument about why the interesting hard parts are going to turn out to be doable.

You might infer from my username that I am moderately optimistic.

[Qworg]

Actually, elecengin said that.

I'm far more optimistic on these problems, as I've seen many of them solved.

Lettuce picking (and other ground crops shortly) thinned and picked by machine? Check.

Strawberry sorting for plant quality? Check.

Strawberry harvesting? Check.

Harvesting of tree crops? Check.

Orange grove navigation by tractors? Check.

Ex: http://www.rec.ri.cmu.edu/usda/ http://farmofthefuture.net/#/slideshow/autonomous-tractors-t... http://farmindustrynews.com/precision-guidance/new-driverles... http://www.agprofessional.com/news/JD-autonomous-tractors-ar... https://www.asme.org/engineering-topics/articles/robotics/sm...

[robotresearcher]

| Actually, elecengin said that.

Sorry for that mistake, and thanks for the links.