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Friday, March 02, 2018
Watch these robots measure and saw wood
Boing Boing: People who need custom furniture in the future may be able to feed the design into a program and then have robot-assisted carpentry do the rest.
8 comments:
Katie Pyzowski
said...
Robots and shop work is a fine line. I am all for no robots ever and doing everything using human labor and power tools. Kevin always talks about how you should give the shop drawings with just the essential measurements so that the carpenters can still do the math and be more a part of the process than just measuring and cutting. This kind of machine is what that feels like to me. It takes the human involvement out of the shop work. This is not, however, the same kind of robots as a CNC or a 3D printer. Automated machines like that make intricate and specialized processes and items possible to have, especially within a restricted schedule. Carnegie Scenic would never make a transition to machines like this because there is such a strong focus on knowing the hands on working of a scene shop and being a good fabricator. While I would always love to be able to build the project by hand, I understand that there are somethings that need a special machine, I just do not think that this is the kind of machine we artists need.
At first when I saw this, I had one of those "Robots are taking our jobs" reactions, but now I am less concerned. This video was relatively underwhelming. I am sure they still have some work to do on it and could progress it further, but I am not concerned about a robot taking away carpentry jobs any time soon. The level of knowledge that a carpenter has to have and just the logistics of a wood shop make it seem almost comical that a robot could do what a group of four or five highly trained carpenters could. Sure this might make a shop safer, but is it really saving that much? Sure, people get hurt in wood shops often enough, but things like stop saws are also being used to mitigate this. The idea that this would 'free the carpenter up to worry about the design' is not that realistic either. Part of the designing and fabricating of these things is the cutting of the lumber. This is an integral part that can not just be shipped off to a computer to do.
So with the advancements made in the idea of adding robots into the forces especially for projects which are hyperly similar but not the same on each project I see robotics giving a great boast in production. This article show the simple fabrication on a IKEA esch cocktail table that looks like it was based off of a 3D model block. Which is honestly where I think the best use of automotized fabrication processes in the theatrical fabrication world is and as the MIT team expressed their goal was “In an effort to minimize injury and let carpenters focus on design and other bigger-picture tasks, a team from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) has created AutoSaw, a system that lets nonexperts customize different items that can then be constructed with the help of robots. Users can choose from a range of carpenter-designed templates for chairs, desks, and other furniture. The team says that AutoSaw could eventually be used for projects as large as a deck or a porch.” and this line of thinking is what I feel we need to get along side with in the future.
I think this is really cool. Its amazing how much technology can do and I think the artist in this is the developer of the technology. However, I do have the same thought as everyone else in this thread concerning carpentry jobs. To me, woodworking is such a personal and human process so it seems wrong for it to be automated. It is a profession that has barely changed for centuries and i think should not change drastically for centuries to come. But, as Cooper said above, this video is pretty underwhelming and I cannot imagine robots taking over the more complex woodworking skills of a carpenter anytime soon. I also do not think that, the way it is designed right now, it can work harmoniously with a shop environment. I do see its value with consumers who do not know how to use saws and such but I also think that it might just be easier for them to learn instead of buying a whole robot system,
It is here, on the doorstep of the industry! Soon, once they make it cost effective and faster the need for the qualified person to make scenery will go out the window. The day where we can talk to a computer and say make me a 4x8 flat and then by the time we walk down to the shop all the materials will be cut and ready to go. This will remove enormous amounts of waste and error. It will be interesting to see how much or little human interaction will be needed for the upkeep and running of the shop though. The simple fact that one can plug the information into a computer and out pops the parts is impressive. Even more, so that this is being done today in such a simple looking way. One thing that struck me was how they used a self-driving robot to make the cuts in the sheet goods. No need for a colossal CNC router table that is never level and cant move. Using a smaller portable cutter makes the whole thing able to cut out an entire floor or ready to go off-site quickly!
I think this is the sort of technology that is a double edged sword for our industry. On some level there is an artistry aspect to our work that I am not quite sure you could replicate with a machine like this, on another level, however, this could add a lot of benefits to the way we work. I know I have had to be the carpenter that cute 500 of one measurement of 2x4 and, to me, there is very little artistry in that and more that it just needs to be done by someone in order to build the other items that day. I think robots would be great for tasks like this, where we-re trying to make humans act like machines anyway. I know that the margin of error in me cutting the 500 cuts or 2x4 is so much larger than what something like this machine could do, and I think that could save s a lot of adjusting and error down the line.
This is a pretty cool thing that might be useful in a different context, but I must say, it is pretty much the definition of overkill in this application. And the only thing even crazier than the robots cutting the wood, is the robot cutting a circle out of whatever material that is. Don't get me wrong, I think in certain applications this could be really helpful for mass production. Or at least the technology can be applied, but for little DIY woodworking projects as this is currently designed for, I would say instead of spending the time and money on the robots, go buy a five dollar tape measure from the store and learn how to use it, boom, now you're a robot. I think there is a push to throw technology at everything even when it doesn't need it. These things are always marketed as being good because of safety, but what happens when the robots attack?
Watching this video, I immediately knew how much this innovation could change things for many industries. To have robots move around, go pick up whatever they need to and carry it over to a saw and cut exactly what they need to cut, is very incredible. This task alone is sometimes a very dangerous, difficult, straining, and time consuming one, also, human accuracy is never 100% accurate. If robots could be moving around different shops across the country and do the job with more accuracy and efficiency than the average carpenter, why wouldn't we make this change? Not only being super efficient, it can prevent accidental injuries completely. I know of a guy who lost his ring finger while working on building a show. While still being attentive to his work, the ring on his finer accidentally got caught on something (I don't exactly remember what) and tore the finger right off. I understand working in the shop is what many people like to do. I am curious what these people would think of this technology working alongside them to do more dangerous or difficult tasks. Like many things in theater, building a set properly is more of a skill than anything, and I am curious to know how accurate these robots could be at performing the several skills needed.
8 comments:
Robots and shop work is a fine line. I am all for no robots ever and doing everything using human labor and power tools. Kevin always talks about how you should give the shop drawings with just the essential measurements so that the carpenters can still do the math and be more a part of the process than just measuring and cutting. This kind of machine is what that feels like to me. It takes the human involvement out of the shop work. This is not, however, the same kind of robots as a CNC or a 3D printer. Automated machines like that make intricate and specialized processes and items possible to have, especially within a restricted schedule. Carnegie Scenic would never make a transition to machines like this because there is such a strong focus on knowing the hands on working of a scene shop and being a good fabricator. While I would always love to be able to build the project by hand, I understand that there are somethings that need a special machine, I just do not think that this is the kind of machine we artists need.
At first when I saw this, I had one of those "Robots are taking our jobs" reactions, but now I am less concerned. This video was relatively underwhelming. I am sure they still have some work to do on it and could progress it further, but I am not concerned about a robot taking away carpentry jobs any time soon. The level of knowledge that a carpenter has to have and just the logistics of a wood shop make it seem almost comical that a robot could do what a group of four or five highly trained carpenters could. Sure this might make a shop safer, but is it really saving that much? Sure, people get hurt in wood shops often enough, but things like stop saws are also being used to mitigate this. The idea that this would 'free the carpenter up to worry about the design' is not that realistic either. Part of the designing and fabricating of these things is the cutting of the lumber. This is an integral part that can not just be shipped off to a computer to do.
So with the advancements made in the idea of adding robots into the forces especially for projects which are hyperly similar but not the same on each project I see robotics giving a great boast in production. This article show the simple fabrication on a IKEA esch cocktail table that looks like it was based off of a 3D model block. Which is honestly where I think the best use of automotized fabrication processes in the theatrical fabrication world is and as the MIT team expressed their goal was “In an effort to minimize injury and let carpenters focus on design and other bigger-picture tasks, a team from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) has created AutoSaw, a system that lets nonexperts customize different items that can then be constructed with the help of robots. Users can choose from a range of carpenter-designed templates for chairs, desks, and other furniture. The team says that AutoSaw could eventually be used for projects as large as a deck or a porch.” and this line of thinking is what I feel we need to get along side with in the future.
I think this is really cool. Its amazing how much technology can do and I think the artist in this is the developer of the technology. However, I do have the same thought as everyone else in this thread concerning carpentry jobs. To me, woodworking is such a personal and human process so it seems wrong for it to be automated. It is a profession that has barely changed for centuries and i think should not change drastically for centuries to come. But, as Cooper said above, this video is pretty underwhelming and I cannot imagine robots taking over the more complex woodworking skills of a carpenter anytime soon. I also do not think that, the way it is designed right now, it can work harmoniously with a shop environment. I do see its value with consumers who do not know how to use saws and such but I also think that it might just be easier for them to learn instead of buying a whole robot system,
It is here, on the doorstep of the industry! Soon, once they make it cost effective and faster the need for the qualified person to make scenery will go out the window. The day where we can talk to a computer and say make me a 4x8 flat and then by the time we walk down to the shop all the materials will be cut and ready to go. This will remove enormous amounts of waste and error. It will be interesting to see how much or little human interaction will be needed for the upkeep and running of the shop though. The simple fact that one can plug the information into a computer and out pops the parts is impressive. Even more, so that this is being done today in such a simple looking way. One thing that struck me was how they used a self-driving robot to make the cuts in the sheet goods. No need for a colossal CNC router table that is never level and cant move. Using a smaller portable cutter makes the whole thing able to cut out an entire floor or ready to go off-site quickly!
I think this is the sort of technology that is a double edged sword for our industry. On some level there is an artistry aspect to our work that I am not quite sure you could replicate with a machine like this, on another level, however, this could add a lot of benefits to the way we work. I know I have had to be the carpenter that cute 500 of one measurement of 2x4 and, to me, there is very little artistry in that and more that it just needs to be done by someone in order to build the other items that day. I think robots would be great for tasks like this, where we-re trying to make humans act like machines anyway. I know that the margin of error in me cutting the 500 cuts or 2x4 is so much larger than what something like this machine could do, and I think that could save s a lot of adjusting and error down the line.
This is a pretty cool thing that might be useful in a different context, but I must say, it is pretty much the definition of overkill in this application. And the only thing even crazier than the robots cutting the wood, is the robot cutting a circle out of whatever material that is. Don't get me wrong, I think in certain applications this could be really helpful for mass production. Or at least the technology can be applied, but for little DIY woodworking projects as this is currently designed for, I would say instead of spending the time and money on the robots, go buy a five dollar tape measure from the store and learn how to use it, boom, now you're a robot. I think there is a push to throw technology at everything even when it doesn't need it. These things are always marketed as being good because of safety, but what happens when the robots attack?
Watching this video, I immediately knew how much this innovation could change things for many industries. To have robots move around, go pick up whatever they need to and carry it over to a saw and cut exactly what they need to cut, is very incredible. This task alone is sometimes a very dangerous, difficult, straining, and time consuming one, also, human accuracy is never 100% accurate. If robots could be moving around different shops across the country and do the job with more accuracy and efficiency than the average carpenter, why wouldn't we make this change? Not only being super efficient, it can prevent accidental injuries completely. I know of a guy who lost his ring finger while working on building a show. While still being attentive to his work, the ring on his finer accidentally got caught on something (I don't exactly remember what) and tore the finger right off. I understand working in the shop is what many people like to do. I am curious what these people would think of this technology working alongside them to do more dangerous or difficult tasks. Like many things in theater, building a set properly is more of a skill than anything, and I am curious to know how accurate these robots could be at performing the several skills needed.
-Pablo Anton
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