Watch a robot sew a shirt from start to finish

CNN ^

[Daffynition]

Can it be programmed to sew a pant suit?

[1rudeboy]

And just imagine if he had paid them enough to buy mansions. /s

[Captain Rhino]

Yes. I’ve actually visited military vehicle factories where robots such as these are being used. HOWEVER, the human assemblers and the robot assemblers are kept in separate areas for (human) safety reasons. In addition, all of the cabling, interior installations, fit adjustments, etc. are being carried out by humans because the robotics industry has not produced sufficiently compact and flexible robots to handle those tasks...yet. In addition, every robot in the line has to have precise computer instructions governing its movements and all the components being manipulated have to be indexed (by human staff) to precise locations on the assembly line. When a change is introduced into the process, the affected machine(s) need to have their computer instructions updated; manufacturing a new model requires resetting the entire line. I have read that AI is being looked at to assist these machines in developing these new assembly routines autonomously.

The video also exposes the material handling weakness of these robots as they exist now. The robots lack the fine motor skills and dexterity needed handle cloth easily unless it is first stiffened so it handles more like a thin piece of metal.

All these issues can be overcome with enough R&D.

Considering the investment required, it is hard to imagine, at present, seeing an army of these robots being used to assemble $7.99 polo shirts for WalMart.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I have to agree with your last line...for such low-value products as clothing, I would think it is hard to beat low-price labor with machines.

But machines are making inroads into a lot of surprising places such as fast food.