There are tech companies that are currently focusing on automation. Some of these firms are building robots that can perform different tasks, including helping people move from one house to another. The main question now is, can human movers be replaced by robots?
Some of the reasons why human movers cannot be replaced by robots include:
1. Inflexibility
The main difference between humans and robots is that one is programmed, whereas the other uses a brain. A robot has been programmed using a set of instructions, and it cannot engage in any other activities outside the written code.
A moving company, the family that is moving, and movers are supposed to be flexible. Some factors usually affect the moving plan, and you have no control over them—for example, traffic jams, bad weather, and other unforeseeable issues. If a robot works as a mover, it cannot showcase flexibility or understand any of these issues. They will pack all the items and load them into the car without grasping the client’s situation.
2. Lack of Communication
Humans should communicate with each other in different ways, including nodding, smiling, or waving. Friendly gestures or small talk usually make people feel comfortable and welcomed. On the other hand, is it possible for robots to communicate with people around them? No, it’s not possible. Even the most advanced forms of AI technology, such as Alexa or Siri, cannot engage humans in deep talks or offer advice. Instead, they normally issue an answer to any question that they’ve been asked.
The answer given by these algorithms is the one they have been fed as they were being programmed. Since robots lack human toughness when engaging in different activities, they cannot easily replace humans.
3. Robots Cannot Think Outside Their “Code.”
Is it possible for a robot to know there is an issue with the boxes before they start to pack? The answer is “No,” since a robot doesn’t have the sense of touch. Humans can assess everything since they have senses, and they can easily know the condition of each box by touching it.
Before moving anything, a human mover will first assess each item’s weight, material, size, and fragility. A robot, on the other hand, is not capable of doing so. If it has been programmed to only load items or carry out bin picking, it cannot do anything beyond that.
4. Lack of Emotional Intellect
As you move, you’ll experience a lot of emotions, especially if you have lived in a certain house for many years. Since people freak out when they even think of packing, there is the need to offer moral support and reassurance, and this is where emotional intellect comes in.
A robot is incapable of such, and there is no assurance whether everything will be handled with care. The robots cannot also initiate a discussion to help ease the anxiety of the people moving.
5. Robots Cannot Utilize Their Past Experience.
When dealing with different professionals such as movers or doctors, we normally consider their experience to determine whether they’re experts or not. After working in a certain field for a certain number of years, a person is exposed to various situations and can easily come up with a solution to various challenges.
As for robots, experience is not a variable to consider. Regardless of the number of times, a robot has been moving items; there is no difference since the experience they garner has no effect on their programming.
Final Thoughts
Automation is advantageous since it increases efficiency and reduces workload while saving time. In industries that have monotonous tasks, robots will come in handy. However, when it comes to moving, robots cannot easily replace humans, and we have listed different reasons to support this statement.