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Sorting of mails are already automated. Why not go all
the way, and automate the delivery of mail to houses as
well? Well currently its not easy designing robots that can
deal with many different kinds of mail boxes.
Why not require all houses to carry "standardized"
mailboxes designed for
robotic mail delivery, with QR
codes and reflective markings to
make
it easier for a robotic mail delivery drone to deliver mail.
The mail box unlike normal boxes, have rails to allow for
the robots to grab hold of and properly align it's
mechanism to the mail slot (And not have to worry about
misalignment).
For larger items, a larger mail box can be
accommodated. It still has the same robot friendly mail
slot, but has a lid that can only be unlocked and opened
by a 'mailman' key that the robot has (e.g. 240V
electromagnetic solenoid).
This also provides an opportunity for other extra
features for this mailbox, e.g. information ports so the
mail robot can communicate to the owner about what
mail has arrived.
Because we can either design a robot to adapt to the
environment (like different mailbox shape and sizes), or
we can adapt the environment for the robot.
To make life easier for robots is important for our
society,
we should adapt everything in our life for the robots. We
should submit to robots. All hail robots.
[link]
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if rant [M-F-D] no idea
if idea [M-F-D] let's all |
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r a n t and against poor helpless automation. |
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No, not a rant, actually a pretty god idea. [+] |
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I'm sorta with 8th on this one without the whole
'ascribing it to a deity' thing. Good idea parallel to
the remote arm picking up standardized rubbish bins. |
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Houses aren't standardized. Unless you're going to
go with something like a curbside on a post, a lot
of stuff matters: the door location, porch or
stairs, door opening side, door construction (all
glass = not on door), frame construction, side light
construction, door position, number of
residents/mailboxes, etc. |
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More realistically, make the robot reasonable
flexible, but require that every mail slot have an
rfid tag in the same location relative to the slot.
That should be enough. |
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Or, since robots don't work set hours, and drones
are as easy as most others, create a phone app
that allows on demand delivery to the person in
question. |
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Don't want my mailbox to be the same as yours. |
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I would also prefer to not have robots visiting my
home. |
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I like my dolphin mailbox
Unless all of the mailboxes are shaped like dolphins
or cats I am not in favor. |
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What kind of backwards world would this be if grown
men and women were not going around placing
envelopes and small packages inside of containers
shaped like cats or dolphins on purpose to put food
on the table? |
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I used to deliver mail, and speaking as a non-robot, I'd be in favor of
standard boxes. Mail slots are a pain. |
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Practically, you could have many standard mailbox shapes, as long
as the drone can tell which type of one it is approaching. And, with
the GPS location and house address, you could attach the approach
path to the mailbox, and recognition/navigation landmarks, and box
type. |
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I am bunning for the grab rails to aid in alignment, and suggesting
that the boxes could have auto-opening lids. [+] |
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Baconbrain - You don't want too many electronics
involved in the opening of the mail slot or flap. |
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You would prefer something more of how those old
fangled VCR and floppy disk protect their slot. |
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How about the mail is sorted into mailboxes in a big
warehouse. Every piece that goes in has a picture
taken of it so that residents can log in to their
account and see the contents of their mail at any
time, electronically. We'll call it "e-mail." Just
kidding. |
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But really, you can log in and schedule a delivery at
any time. The mail will be pulled to a truck and
delivered like a parcel, perhaps in a big reusable box. |
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