I'll be convinced they can fully replace most trade work when they figure out fine motor control and finally build servo or hydraulic systems that don't act all janky and with slop a mile wide. When they can strip a wire, and then terminate it into a screw terminal, and then install an outlet in the wall. All with one robot, using each tool as needed as finely tuned as a human would do it. And also being able to adapt to different situations on the spot. For instance "shit, the hole for the outlet overlaps a stud, wtf do I do to fix this" type stuff.

From what I've seen even from the best like Boston Dynamics, there are still many decades to go before we have fully capable robotic trade workers.

[–] photonic_sorcerer@lemmy.dbzer0.com -2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Many decades? Try five years.

[–] evranch@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Big lol. Doing unattended trades work is practically the definition of general AI, something we don't see happening any time soon.

Build prefab RTMs in a factory? Today, if the desire was there. Design the house around the line and build it like a car.

Run a new circuit from the basement to an upstairs bedroom, in an old house with weird idiosyncrasies? Not in our lifetimes. The combination of mapping, movement, intuition and the fact that something is guaranteed to go wrong and likely require rethinking the whole job makes this a very hard problem™.

Believe me if someone can invent a robot that can navigate a lumpy, rat infested crawlspace and install pipe/wires/insulation the apprentices of the world will be eternally grateful

[–] rwhitisissle@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago

If Tesla has given up on fully self driving cars, wherein driving is a much simpler mechanical activity to replicating the full breadth of human construction tasks, then I don't see how people are expecting tradecraft to get replaced by Mr. Fixitron anytime soon.