Robots taking more jobs away...fuel stations this time

[Tottanka]

check this out, way cool!
http://www.tankpitstop.com/index.php?pid=6

[GaryVoshol]

Howzat work with a locking gas tank? And I played it without sound, so maybe they said - but I didn't see any indication of anyone paying for the gas. And what if you only want $10?

Is this really a solution to a problem that doesn't exist? Most places you get gas now, you pump it yourself. If you want to pay more, you go to one of the few full-serve stations where a minimum wage pump-jockey fills your tank for you. You could pay that guy's wages for a long tmie for what this robot must cost.

Not to mention, there's going to be a lot of people leery about allowing some machine to maneuver a metal nozzle near their paint. Or wonder whether the machine will miss their tank and pump 40 gallons onto the ground.

[wilsonmw04]

What about at the fuel station of the future? Where we pump Hydrogen rather than gasoline? Safety will be much more of a priority then.

[petek]

Originally Posted by wilsonmw04

What about at the fuel station of the future? Where we pump Hydrogen rather than gasoline? Safety will be much more of a priority then.

If/when H2 does become a reality, the safety of unattended (and under-maintained) complex automated filling systems should be enough to keep this sort of robotics out of commercial use. Don't get me wrong: I am a strong proponent of automation where the cost:benefit calculations are in its favor, but this looks to me like automation for automation's sake. It's also slower than all but the slowest of the gas station attendants I've encountered.

[artdutra04]

And with this, half of the minimum wage jobs from New Jersey are now gone.

[wilsonmw04]

Originally Posted by petek

It's also slower than all but the slowest of the gas station attendants I've encountered.

you all still have station attendants? I haven't seen on of those is almost 20 years.

[Molten]

Originally Posted by artdutra04

And with this, half of the minimum wage jobs from New Jersey are now gone.

True, but I see some high-paying jobs opening up. Someone needs to upkeep these bots.

A long time ago, I realized that some day I will put someone out of a job. I've decided that I will also make more jobs in the process. I'm ok with this. In fact, doing away with uneducated jobs and replacing them with educated ones will just promote higher learning. It will further mankind. Personally, I worry more about the whole then the individuals.

[petek]

Originally Posted by wilsonmw04

you all still have station attendants? I haven't seen on of those is almost 20 years.

Unfortunately, yes. The NJ gas station owners lobbied the state to outlaw self-service ostensibly because of safety concerns. A station can be fined or worse if caught letting a customer pump their own. I usually stop at one particular station because they don't stop me. I've grown quite tired of waiting for five minutes for a pump jockey to get around to spilling gas on the side of my car! There is a silver lining, however: NJ has the second-lowest average gas prices in the nation.

[Travis Hoffman]

Originally Posted by Molten

In fact, doing away with uneducated jobs and replacing them with educated ones will just promote higher learning. It will further mankind.

Presuming mankind actually finds a way to expose all of its members to fair and equally-accessible higher educational opportunities such that there are enough qualified individuals to fill those "educated" positions. Is that happening today?

Those that have that particular door shut in their face are probably liking the fact they have those "uneducated" jobs to fall back upon. If those go away, well I guess the armed forces get those new recruits they're desperate for. Convenient.

[Molten]

Originally Posted by Travis Hoffman

Presuming mankind actually finds a way to expose all of its members to fair and equally-accessible higher educational opportunities such that there are enough qualified individuals to fill those "educated" positions. Is that happening today?

Those that have that particular door shut in their face are probably liking the fact they have those "uneducated" jobs to fall back upon. If those go away, well I guess the armed forces get those new recruits they're desperate for. Convenient.

Some will be at a disadvantage, but that is nothing new. Besides, invention is born of necessity. Many will say this applies to classic invention such as tools and transportation and the sort. But it also applies to adaptation. People will find ways for education. Countries will find ways to educate them. I don't worry about things like that because I count on mankind's adaptive ways.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Molten

Some will be at a disadvantage, but that is nothing new. Besides, invention is born of necessity. Many will say this applies to classic invention such as tools and transportation and the sort. But it also applies to adaptation. People will find ways for education. Countries will find ways to educate them. I don't worry about things like that because I count on mankind's adaptive ways.

As a person married to a retail manager who employs people who work for minimum wage, I have watched many struggle to make ends meet for the last 25 years. Some have sent the bulk of their wages to family in another country. Some are my age and can't afford a doctor, a dentist, or their prescriptions - and now they are contending with gas bills. One woman my age rides the bus and gets up at 4 to make it to work on time and she gets home after 7. These people have had to find their own way to achieve dreams of education; their country is not necessarily that helpful. Some have succeeded and moved on in the fields that their degrees obtained for them. Many do not manage to have a dream of education for themselves, they are working to pay the bills. Mankind does adapt, it is true. Oftentimes, to struggle, difficulties, and hardship.

Robotics and the automated industry are important. So are jobs for people who do not and will not have college careers or opportunities.

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by petek

Unfortunately, yes. The NJ gas station owners lobbied the state to outlaw self-service ostensibly because of safety concerns. A station can be fined or worse if caught letting a customer pump their own. I usually stop at one particular station because they don't stop me. I've grown quite tired of waiting for five minutes for a pump jockey to get around to spilling gas on the side of my car!

I always thought that law was to benefit the attendants, not the station owners. Oregon has a similar law, as I recall - the only two states which prohibit self-serve.

There is a silver lining, however: NJ has the second-lowest average gas prices in the nation.

That's because NJ has one of the lowest gas taxes.

[Molten]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

Robotics and the automated industry are important. So are jobs for people who do not and will not have college careers or opportunities.

Well-spoken as always. I can see your point, however in the long-term perspective(think 1000 years) there will be no need for these jobs. Your examples show that people are willing to go to great lengths to adapt. My thought is that if these jobs disappeared, the country would go to great lengths to help. For now, the country doesn't help much because they don't have to. These jobs are not around. However, if these jobs were to disappear it would force the government's hand.(excuse the overused analogy). They would have to help these people and in turn improve their overall living conditions.

To Jane: I suspect that this will probably have to be yet another one of those things we have to agree to disagree. Agreed?

[acdcfan259]

Originally Posted by Molten

True, but I see some high-paying jobs opening up. Someone needs to upkeep these bots.

That brings up a point about money.

We know for sure that this is going to cost MUCH more than a regular pump. It's probably going to need more parts fixed on it. And that high paying job could end up costing as much or more than those cheap station attendants.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Molten

To Jane: I suspect that this will probably have to be yet another one of those things we have to agree to disagree. Agreed?

Agreed, although I do have to admit that it would be nice to think about the impact that FIRST, robotics, Gracious Professionalism, and some of Mr. Kamen's inventions will have on our global future as community and as peoples. 1000 years - that would be a long projection to think about and ponder.

Jason, your response was very gracious. Thank you.