BHS recycling robot - GIF and video

[Frank S]

I don't see it that way Ralph, but that is just me. What I see is a complex piece of equipment doing a menial task. the machine cost x amount to purchase OK that cost may or may not be recoverable over the life of the machine. every time the machine gets the hiccups and automated machines always do, a service company will have to be called out to diagnose the symptoms then a technical team of highly skilled individuals will have to make the repairs and adjustments. Over time these repairs or others will need to be preformed again and again. eventually driving the cost of recyclables to an unsustainable level making it ultimately less costly to just allow them to become part of a landfill.
There are places where robotics are better suited than having humans when the task is extremely hazardous, requires absolute repeatable functions with precision timing are a couple that comes to mind.
but things like robotic pancake flipping or omelet cooking or pouring a cup of coffee are little more than gimmickry applications to me.
I know of a company that recycles plastics, with 10 employees. 4 that sort shred, bale or melt down several tons of just about every type of plastic imaginable every day, another 6 employees are responsible for insuring any metals or fabrics are removed and preliminary sorting is done at that time as well. Of course I need to mention that Eric's employees do not get paid an hourly wage they all get a percentage of net so the lower they can keep the operating costs and the higher the gross is the larger the net becomes. some weeks an employee can take home a couple grand clear other weeks maybe as little as just 8 or 900.00 if the market happens to tank. I don't see how a robotic system or a multiple of systems could Work in Eric's case.