PolyBot

We’ve all come across an individual who is good at everything.  You know, that friend who speaks several languages or excels at games of logic.  How about those folks who pick up musical instruments for the first time and instantly play a generational favorite?  Perhaps this describes you.  One thing is for sure, it does not describe me.  These unique individuals are rare.  However, poly-skilled robots are growing in number each day and taking on more interesting tasks than ever.

One robot named YuMi being produced by Swiss firm ABB was designed initially to be a manufacturing co-worker.  This dual-arm machine is capable of small parts assembly.  As if that weren’t enough, this creation recently led the Lucca Philharmonic Orchestra in Pisa, Italy.  The orchestra’s resident conductor, Andrea Colombini, taught his temporary replacement during rehearsals by holding its arms so the machine could memorize his movements.  YuMi conducted three of the 18 pieces in a performance earlier this week, done alongside Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.  Few people live lives which require a transition from the assembly line to the rostrum, but there is now a robot capable of the task.  A robot capable of teaching other droids to do the same will probably be available soon (if it is not already).

Developments like this demonstrate the possibilities of automation.  Simultaneously, it shows there are fewer places in the labor market which are immune to technology.  YuMi was initially designed to work side-by-side with human counterparts.  And it was conducting a group of humans this week, so it is capable of working with others.  But what if its human partners are merely stand-ins until enough YuMis are produced to replace you and me?