#Robot Motion Control

[dynaloginc]

Unlocking Precision in Robotics with Dynaflex: A Dynalog-US Innovation.

Precision is paramount in today's fast-paced world of automation, with industries such as aerospace, automotive, electronics, and advanced manufacturing requiring robot systems to function with precision, in order for the process to deliver quality and consistent performance. This is where Dynatrol-US Dynaflex provides an unparalleled solution to improve robot calibration and motion control for industrial environments. 

So, what exactly is Dynaflex?

Dynaflex is sophisticated real-time calibration developed by Dynalog-US- a leader in robotic accuracy solutions. These advanced dynamic performance assessment tools were developed specifically for robot systems. Dynaflex measures the dynamic performance (how robots behave while they operate), versus static calibration tools (preset calibration baked into the robots programming) by evaluating robot compliance and flexibility in real-time. This type of dynamic assessment provides potential for accuracy to industries where tolerances must be tight and conditions demand high levels of performance reliability.

Simply put Dynaflex gives practitioners visibility and insight into how a robot responds dynamically while at work and if sufficient stress or force signatures, behaviour is exhibited. In many cases, this is no different than creating significant and costly rework..

Why is Dynaflex so Important?

When robots perform jobs such as welding, painting, and assembling, even the most minor deviation in motion can create defects or misalignment. Traditional calibration methods consider positioning, but often don't consider the dynamic changes in robot posture due to many different factors such as: gravity, speed and payload. Dynaflex effectively takes calibration to the next level by adding dynamic variables to the calibration equation.

With the Dynaflex system, manufacturers can:

Measure and minimize robot compliance (flexibility under load)

Achieve better path accuracy with complex work processes

Validate robot performance in real-world conditions

Identify mechanical anomalies before they can become major catastrophes

Maximize repeatability and process consistency

These are meaningful relationships to ensure that the robot moves correctly on paper, but that it also can perform accurately on the production floor. 

How Does Dynaflex Work?

Dynaflex implements a series of highly sensitive measurement tools and calibration routines that allow engineerings to visualize how the end effector of a robot moves while under load, or at high speed. By measuring real-time flexing, oscillation and inertia, Dynaflex creates a comprehensive map of the robot's behavior.

Once the data has been collected, the data is used to adjust the robot's motion algorithms and account for mechanical variation. 

Who is Dynaflex for?

Dynaflex is ideal for companies and industries that expect critical congruency and which themselves use robotic automation, including:

Automotive manufacturing

Aerospace and defence

Medical devices

Electronics assembly

Metal fabrication

3D printing and additive manufacturing

If your company relies on multi-robot cells, automated welding cells, or pick-and-place systems, introducing Dynaflex to your calibration operations will provide great benefit.

Dynalog-US: The Experts in Robot Calibration

Dynalog-US was founded to provide accurate and reliable robotic systems and has been a leader in robot performance technology for several decades. Their products are being used by leading world manufacturers, many of whom are in the Fortune 500.

Whether it is for robotic inspection, Tool Center Point (TCP) calibration or improving robot cell accuracy, Dynalog has a history of introducing products to the marketplace that demonstrate thoughtful engineering, industry leading performance, and great customer support.

Dynalog's market leading solutions, to include Dynaflex, come with documentation, field training, and technical consulting, which is more than just selling a product; Dynalog provides a partnership to achieve your production success.

Many companies have seen measurable improvements after adding Dynaflex to their robotic workflow:

Up to 40% improvement in path accuracy Considerably less joint stress and less component wear Reduction of rework and scrap percentage Faster ROI from robotic systems

One aerospace customer even found that Dynaflex helped them to achieve their tolerance requirements that they previously thought could be accomplished only with standard robots or off-the-shelf robotic equipment.

Future of Robotic CalibrationAs AI, machine Learning, and Industry 4.0 technologies evolve, the need for ongoing performance validation to and compliance will become more valuable. Also, autonomous systems will validate performance more often, and human interventions will be using tools like Dynaflex to ensure safety, quality, and efficiencies.

With Dynaflex by Dynalog-US, businesses now have a scalable and future-proof calibration platform to leverage for future use and to enhance work processes while accomplishing productivity and accuracy improvements in the immediate.

Conclusion

When you invest in robots, investing in robot performance has to be a given. Properly calibrating robot performance starts with the initial calibration when it is stationary, when it is in motion, while it is under load, and evaluating at the full-speed capability.

Dynaflex by Dynalog-US is a calibration device that provides the measurement data (metrics) to give you a competitive advantage for an ever-evolving automated world.

Ready to take the next step in robotic precision? Visit www.dynalog-us.com to learn more about Dynaflex and schedule a consultation with the experts at Dynalog-US.

[creative-robot]

Do y’all think it’s considered a promotion or a demotion for the Showfall employees to get assigned to be henchmen for cast members? Cause on one hand, they’re part of the show, They get the ‘honor’ of being a part of it! On the other hand the Puzzler likely accidentally fuckin blasted two off-screen henchrats off the face of the planet

[criminalgays]

every time i imagine the twinyards all i get is a bleach blond version of youtube star Micheal Reeves

this dumbass (affectionate) is what my gremlin brain sees EVERY SINGLE TIME

[mastergarryblogs]

Unveiling the Power of Position Velocity Feedback Transmitter Systems in Modern Industries

Introduction: The Importance of Position and Velocity Feedback Systems in Precision Control

Position and velocity feedback transmitter systems are integral to industries that demand high-precision control and motion tracking. These systems are employed to monitor the position and velocity of moving objects in real-time, providing critical data for automated operations. The evolution of these systems has been significant, with advancements in technology enabling more compact, accurate, and reliable feedback mechanisms that drive automation, robotics, aerospace, automotive, and healthcare applications.

With the global shift towards increased automation, the demand for such systems is on the rise. Industries across the board require precise control of machinery, vehicles, and robots to enhance performance, improve safety, and optimize productivity. The growing need for smart manufacturing, autonomous vehicles, and medical robotics underscores the vital role these systems play in modern industries. Despite some challenges, such as high upfront costs and integration complexities, the long-term benefits of precision, efficiency, and reliability outweigh these hurdles.

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Position Velocity Feedback Transmitter Systems Market Dynamics: Drivers, Challenges, and Opportunities

Drivers of Growth

The Position Velocity Feedback Transmitter Systems market is experiencing robust growth driven by several key factors:

Advancements in Automation and Robotics: Industries across manufacturing, automotive, and aerospace are increasingly adopting automation technologies. These systems allow for faster, more accurate control, driving the need for precise position and velocity feedback.

Technological Advancements in Sensors: Innovations in sensor technology, particularly in digital systems, are facilitating the development of more accurate and miniaturized position velocity feedback systems. The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies is making these systems smarter and more adaptable, driving their adoption in industries such as healthcare, smart manufacturing, and autonomous vehicles.

The Rise of Industry 4.0: Industry 4.0 technologies are revolutionizing production lines, with automation and data-driven decisions at their core. Position velocity feedback systems play a critical role in enabling smarter, more efficient manufacturing processes.

Emerging Applications in Healthcare and Autonomous Vehicles: In healthcare, robotic surgeries and diagnostics systems demand highly accurate motion control, while autonomous vehicles require precise feedback systems for safe operation. Both sectors are driving significant demand for position and velocity feedback systems.

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Challenges to Position Velocity Feedback Transmitter Systems Market Adoption

Despite the promising growth, several barriers could slow the widespread adoption of position velocity feedback transmitter systems:

High Initial Investment Costs: The cost of acquiring and integrating high-precision position velocity feedback systems can be prohibitive, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). High upfront costs can deter organizations from upgrading or adopting these systems, limiting market expansion.

Complexity of System Integration: Integrating new feedback systems with existing infrastructure and machinery can be complex and time-consuming, especially in industries that have legacy systems. This complexity increases the time to market and may discourage immediate adoption.

Specialized Training Requirements: The operation, calibration, and maintenance of advanced position velocity feedback systems require highly specialized knowledge and skills. The shortage of skilled labor in these fields may hinder growth, particularly in developing regions.

Key Opportunities

Several emerging trends present substantial opportunities for the growth of the position velocity feedback transmitter systems market:

Smart Manufacturing: As manufacturing processes become increasingly automated, there is a growing demand for position velocity feedback systems to enhance productivity and reduce human error. These systems are integral to improving the efficiency of production lines and ensuring consistent product quality.

Healthcare Robotics: Surgical robots, diagnostic devices, and rehabilitation technologies require real-time motion control. The healthcare sector’s increasing reliance on these technologies provides a substantial opportunity for the growth of high-precision position feedback systems.

Autonomous Vehicles: The rapid development of autonomous vehicles (AVs) hinges on accurate motion tracking and feedback systems for safe navigation. As the demand for AVs increases, so too will the demand for position and velocity feedback transmitters that ensure precise vehicle control.

Position Velocity Feedback Transmitter Systems Market Segmentation and Analysis

By Type

The position velocity feedback transmitter systems market can be divided into two key types:

Position Feedback Transmitter: This sub-segment is expected to dominate the market, driven by the increasing demand for precision in industrial automation applications. Position feedback transmitters provide accurate location tracking, ensuring the correct placement of components in automated systems.

Velocity Feedback Transmitter: While this segment is smaller, it is growing rapidly due to the need for precise speed control in applications such as robotics, aerospace, and automotive industries.

By Technology

Analog Systems: While still in use, analog systems are being increasingly replaced by more sophisticated digital feedback systems that offer greater accuracy and scalability.

Digital Systems: Dominating the market, digital systems provide real-time, highly accurate feedback for a range of applications, particularly in industries like automotive, aerospace, and healthcare. The continued innovation in sensor technology and integration with IoT is expected to fuel further growth in this segment.

By Application

The demand for position and velocity feedback systems spans a variety of industries:

Industrial Automation: Expected to maintain the largest market share, industrial automation continues to be the leading driver of demand for precise motion control systems. These systems are integral to ensuring the accuracy and speed of machinery in sectors such as manufacturing and material handling.

Aerospace and Defense: Aerospace applications require high-precision feedback systems for tasks such as flight control, navigation, and satellite positioning.

Automotive: As automotive systems become more automated, the demand for position and velocity feedback systems grows. These systems ensure precise vehicle control in autonomous and semi-autonomous driving technologies.

Energy: The energy sector, particularly in renewable energy systems, requires high-performance motion control to optimize energy production and distribution.

By Region

The market is geographically diverse, with distinct growth patterns across various regions:

North America: Dominating the market, North America is poised to continue leading the position velocity feedback transmitter systems market due to its advanced industrial sectors, including aerospace and automotive.

Asia-Pacific: The Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the highest growth rate, driven by rapid industrialization and the increasing adoption of automation technologies in countries like China and India.

Europe: Europe’s strong automotive and industrial automation sectors will continue to contribute to the growth of this market.

Latin America and Middle East & Africa: While smaller markets, the demand for these systems is expected to rise as industries in these regions embrace automation and robotics.

Position Velocity Feedback Transmitter Systems Market Competitive Landscape

Key Players

The market for position velocity feedback transmitters is highly competitive, with several industry leaders at the forefront:

Pepperl+Fuchs: Known for its next-generation sensors, Pepperl+Fuchs continues to innovate with solutions tailored to the needs of the automotive and industrial automation sectors. The company launched new high-performance sensors aimed at enhancing precision in harsh industrial environments in 2024.

Temposonics: Specializing in digital feedback systems, Temposonics has made significant strides in the robotics and aerospace sectors. Their advanced systems offer real-time position and velocity tracking, catering to industries that demand high-speed and high-accuracy solutions.

Other Key Players: Other companies in this market include Balluff, Siemens, and Honeywell, each offering various solutions across different applications, from industrial automation to healthcare.

Emerging Trends in Competition

Integration of IoT: Manufacturers are increasingly integrating IoT technologies into their position velocity feedback systems to enhance data collection, improve connectivity, and enable predictive maintenance.

Customization and Tailored Solutions: Companies are focusing on providing customized solutions for specific industries to cater to the unique needs of sectors such as automotive, aerospace, and healthcare.

Sustainability Initiatives: With growing environmental concerns, companies are developing energy-efficient systems that not only meet performance requirements but also adhere to sustainable production practices.

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Conclusion:

The Position Velocity Feedback Transmitter Systems Market is on a rapid growth trajectory, driven by advancements in automation, robotics, and sensor technologies. The demand for high-precision motion control systems is intensifying as industries seek to improve efficiency, safety, and productivity. Despite challenges such as high initial costs and integration complexities, the opportunities presented by emerging applications in healthcare, autonomous vehicles, and smart manufacturing are substantial.

With continued innovation and a focus on integration with IoT and digital technologies, the market is well-positioned for long-term expansion. As the industrial landscape continues to evolve, the role of position and velocity feedback systems will be pivotal in shaping the future of automation and precision control across various sectors.

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[curly4830]

@snippe475

ur government assigned gender for the day is the first thing u get when u click this link to a randomised wikipedia article. NO REROLLS . i am the  trollsteineggje mountain in norway

[oraclerobotics]

The Role of AI in Advancing Robotic Motion Control Systems

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into robotic motion control systems has revolutionized the field of automation. AI-driven robotics are enhancing precision, efficiency, and adaptability in various industrial applications, enabling robots to perform complex tasks with human-like decision-making capabilities.

[bitstream24]

CANfetti: Open-Source CANopen Protocol Stack for Embedded Systems

Scythe Robotics, a developer of advanced, commercial-grade solutions for the professional landscaping industry, announced its first open-source release of CANfetti, a CANopen-compliant stack, developed to overcome the limitations of existing libraries.

[kunalkushwah]

https://www.igus.in/

Igus stands as a testament to the power of innovation, sustainability, and customer-centricity in driving progress within the industrial sector. From humble beginnings in Cologne to global acclaim, igus continues to redefine possibilities in motion plastics, setting benchmarks for reliability, efficiency, and environmental responsibility. As industries evolve and challenges grow more complex, igus remains steadfast in its commitment to shaping the future of motion technology, one innovative solution at a time.

[pddparthi]

Unlocking Precision and Power: A Guide to Hydraulic Servo Actuators

Introduction: In the realm of automation and motion control, hydraulic servo actuators reign supreme for their unmatched blend of raw power and exceptional precision. These marvels of engineering combine the potent force of hydraulics with the meticulous control of electronic systems. This comprehensive guide delves into the world of hydraulic servo actuators, exploring their inner workings,…

[stxim]

In the realm of robotics, the concept of motion control transcends mere movement; it encapsulates the intricate orchestration of actions executed by robots to accomplish diverse tasks efficiently and accurately. From industrial manufacturing to surgical procedures, robot motion control systems serve as the backbone, ensuring precise and seamless operation across various applications. Delving deeper into this realm unveils a landscape of sophisticated technologies and methodologies, each designed to address specific challenges and optimize performance. In this discourse, we embark on a journey to explore the nuances of robot motion control systems, elucidating their significance, functionalities, and evolving trends.

[cosmiic-world]

both arms cradle you now — sylus

cw: angst/comfort, sylus x reader, sylus has a nightmare :( i love him so much guys </3, inspired by forwards beckon rebound — adrianne lenker, mention of main story events

usually sylus was a sound sleeper. never having nightmares nor dreams. it was the same cycle over and over. wake up, go about his day, sleep, repeat.

that was until you showed up.

now his sleep was riddled with nightmares. they were always different but they all had the same ending. he always lost you in the end.

every night, he would jolt awake, eyes blown wide, heart pounding against his chest frantically, gasping for air.

usually he always slept alone, but not this time.

this time you had stayed at sylus’s base, having lost track of time while you were with him. he insisted you stayed with him, afraid something would happen to you in the N109 zone if you’d left so late.

he watched as you slept so soundly in his arms, your chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. he gently placed a soft kiss onto the top of your head before falling asleep, smiling softly as he drifted to unconsciousness.

usually, his nightmares started the same way. he would be at onychinus’s base, an uneasy feeling deep in his chest. but this time, he was in a grassy field. he knew this field. he had lived in this world before. philos.

he took a tentative step forward, suddenly aware of everything. his long dragon tail dragging across the grass, his horns heavy on his head. he ventured across the lands that were so familiar to him. as he traveled around, suddenly a commotion was heard.

“the monster has been caught!”

“kill her!! kill the monster!”

his head whipped around until his eyes landed on you. his heart fell as he watched you be carried away, blood dripping down your face and body, stumps where horns should’ve been on your head bleeding profusely.

“no..” he said softly, hand reaching for you. his feet suddenly felt heavy, and he was stuck where he stood. he couldn’t do anything but watch as the humans carried you away.

suddenly, his surroundings change and he’s back at the N109 zone, standing in front of you. back with the shopkeeper where he tried to alter your evol. you’re sat in front of him, eyes filled with fear.

“it’s not my fault..! i can resonate just fine with others..” you say, your voice shaky as you look at him.

his heart wrenches in his chest. he can’t control his own actions, he has to go through the motions of the events that have already happened before. he has to relive the pain.

he watches as you cower before the altered robot that he activated. he watches as he grabs your arm, noticing how you try to break free from his hold. he listens as to why you won’t resonate with him.

“she’s either rejecting you, scared of you or… disgusted by you.” those same words he’s heard before still have the same effect on him. like a knife stabbing through his heart over and over again.

he looks at you and sees the fear and anger that you felt toward him.

“you’re a monster sylus.” he’s taken aback as those words leave your lips. this isn’t what happened. so why?

“what?” he said, his hold on your wrist faltering slightly.

you tear your hand away from him, rage consuming you.

“how could i ever resonate with a monster like you?” you spit out.

his heart might as well have been torn out from his body. he shook his head, trying to escape this nightmare, but to no avail. he was stuck.

“why would you even think that i could resonate with you?” you say, your finger jabbing into his chest, pushing him back.

he let you push him, stumbling back as he listened to your hurtful words.

��༺♥︎༻∞

as you were sleeping soundly, sylus had begun to stir in his sleep, his nightmare overpowering his consciousness. “sylus..?” you mumbled sleepily as you slowly opened your eyes. you looked at him, his eyes screwed shut, his eyebrows furrowed.

you sat up in bed, gently shaking him in attempt to wake him up. “sylus, wake up.” you said in a soft whisper. your heart wrenched as he softly called your name in his sleep, his expression turning into fear. “my love, wake up.” you said softly as you shook him a bit more aggressively.

you were slightly startled when sylus finally woke up with a gasp, his eyes wide as his chest heaved up and down harshly. “sylus, it’s okay.” you said softly, your hands gentle on his arm.

he sat up and looked at you with slight fear, calling your name softly.

“did you have a nightmare?” you said softly, your gentle gaze watching him. he nodded, his eyes frantically searching your face.

without a word, his arms wrapped around your torso, pulling you close as his head buried into the crook of your neck.

your arms wrapped around his neck, your fingers gently scratching his scalp, tangling with his hair. “it’s okay, my love.” you said softly. “i’m here now. you don’t have to be afraid any longer.”

the sound of your gentle voice soothed him, his eyes closed as he inhaled your sweet and familiar scent.

“i love you.” he said, gently.

“i love you too.” you replied, kissing his head gently.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Bossware is unfair (in the legal sense, too)

You can get into a lot of trouble by assuming that rich people know what they're doing. For example, might assume that ad-tech works – bypassing peoples' critical faculties, reaching inside their minds and brainwashing them with Big Data insights, because if that's not what's happening, then why would rich people pour billions into those ads?

https://pluralistic.net/2020/12/06/surveillance-tulip-bulbs/#adtech-bubble

You might assume that private equity looters make their investors rich, because otherwise, why would rich people hand over trillions for them to play with?

https://thenextrecession.wordpress.com/2024/11/19/private-equity-vampire-capital/

The truth is, rich people are suckers like the rest of us. If anything, succeeding once or twice makes you an even bigger mark, with a sense of your own infallibility that inflates to fill the bubble your yes-men seal you inside of.

Rich people fall for scams just like you and me. Anyone can be a mark. I was:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/05/cyber-dunning-kruger/#swiss-cheese-security

But though rich people can fall for scams the same way you and I do, the way those scams play out is very different when the marks are wealthy. As Keynes had it, "The market can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent." When the marks are rich (or worse, super-rich), they can be played for much longer before they go bust, creating the appearance of solidity.

Noted Keynesian John Kenneth Galbraith had his own thoughts on this. Galbraith coined the term "bezzle" to describe "the magic interval when a confidence trickster knows he has the money he has appropriated but the victim does not yet understand that he has lost it." In that magic interval, everyone feels better off: the mark thinks he's up, and the con artist knows he's up.

Rich marks have looong bezzles. Empirically incorrect ideas grounded in the most outrageous superstition and junk science can take over whole sections of your life, simply because a rich person – or rich people – are convinced that they're good for you.

Take "scientific management." In the early 20th century, the con artist Frederick Taylor convinced rich industrialists that he could increase their workers' productivity through a kind of caliper-and-stopwatch driven choreographry:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/08/21/great-taylors-ghost/#solidarity-or-bust

Taylor and his army of labcoated sadists perched at the elbows of factory workers (whom Taylor referred to as "stupid," "mentally sluggish," and as "an ox") and scripted their motions to a fare-the-well, transforming their work into a kind of kabuki of obedience. They weren't more efficient, but they looked smart, like obedient robots, and this made their bosses happy. The bosses shelled out fortunes for Taylor's services, even though the workers who followed his prescriptions were less efficient and generated fewer profits. Bosses were so dazzled by the spectacle of a factory floor of crisply moving people interfacing with crisply working machines that they failed to understand that they were losing money on the whole business.

To the extent they noticed that their revenues were declining after implementing Taylorism, they assumed that this was because they needed more scientific management. Taylor had a sweet con: the worse his advice performed, the more reasons their were to pay him for more advice.

Taylorism is a perfect con to run on the wealthy and powerful. It feeds into their prejudice and mistrust of their workers, and into their misplaced confidence in their own ability to understand their workers' jobs better than their workers do. There's always a long dollar to be made playing the "scientific management" con.

Today, there's an app for that. "Bossware" is a class of technology that monitors and disciplines workers, and it was supercharged by the pandemic and the rise of work-from-home. Combine bossware with work-from-home and your boss gets to control your life even when in your own place – "work from home" becomes "live at work":

https://pluralistic.net/2021/02/24/gwb-rumsfeld-monsters/#bossware

Gig workers are at the white-hot center of bossware. Gig work promises "be your own boss," but bossware puts a Taylorist caliper wielder into your phone, monitoring and disciplining you as you drive your wn car around delivering parcels or picking up passengers.

In automation terms, a worker hitched to an app this way is a "reverse centaur." Automation theorists call a human augmented by a machine a "centaur" – a human head supported by a machine's tireless and strong body. A "reverse centaur" is a machine augmented by a human – like the Amazon delivery driver whose app goads them to make inhuman delivery quotas while punishing them for looking in the "wrong" direction or even singing along with the radio:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/08/02/despotism-on-demand/#virtual-whips

Bossware pre-dates the current AI bubble, but AI mania has supercharged it. AI pumpers insist that AI can do things it positively cannot do – rolling out an "autonomous robot" that turns out to be a guy in a robot suit, say – and rich people are groomed to buy the services of "AI-powered" bossware:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/29/pay-no-attention/#to-the-little-man-behind-the-curtain

For an AI scammer like Elon Musk or Sam Altman, the fact that an AI can't do your job is irrelevant. From a business perspective, the only thing that matters is whether a salesperson can convince your boss that an AI can do your job – whether or not that's true:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/07/25/accountability-sinks/#work-harder-not-smarter

The fact that AI can't do your job, but that your boss can be convinced to fire you and replace you with the AI that can't do your job, is the central fact of the 21st century labor market. AI has created a world of "algorithmic management" where humans are demoted to reverse centaurs, monitored and bossed about by an app.

The techbro's overwhelming conceit is that nothing is a crime, so long as you do it with an app. Just as fintech is designed to be a bank that's exempt from banking regulations, the gig economy is meant to be a workplace that's exempt from labor law. But this wheeze is transparent, and easily pierced by enforcers, so long as those enforcers want to do their jobs. One such enforcer is Alvaro Bedoya, an FTC commissioner with a keen interest in antitrust's relationship to labor protection.

Bedoya understands that antitrust has a checkered history when it comes to labor. As he's written, the history of antitrust is a series of incidents in which Congress revised the law to make it clear that forming a union was not the same thing as forming a cartel, only to be ignored by boss-friendly judges:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/14/aiming-at-dollars/#not-men

Bedoya is no mere historian. He's an FTC Commissioner, one of the most powerful regulators in the world, and he's profoundly interested in using that power to help workers, especially gig workers, whose misery starts with systemic, wide-scale misclassification as contractors:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/02/upward-redistribution/

In a new speech to NYU's Wagner School of Public Service, Bedoya argues that the FTC's existing authority allows it to crack down on algorithmic management – that is, algorithmic management is illegal, even if you break the law with an app:

https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/bedoya-remarks-unfairness-in-workplace-surveillance-and-automated-management.pdf

Bedoya starts with a delightful analogy to The Hawtch-Hawtch, a mythical town from a Dr Seuss poem. The Hawtch-Hawtch economy is based on beekeeping, and the Hawtchers develop an overwhelming obsession with their bee's laziness, and determine to wring more work (and more honey) out of him. So they appoint a "bee-watcher." But the bee doesn't produce any more honey, which leads the Hawtchers to suspect their bee-watcher might be sleeping on the job, so they hire a bee-watcher-watcher. When that doesn't work, they hire a bee-watcher-watcher-watcher, and so on and on.

For gig workers, it's bee-watchers all the way down. Call center workers are subjected to "AI" video monitoring, and "AI" voice monitoring that purports to measure their empathy. Another AI times their calls. Two more AIs analyze the "sentiment" of the calls and the success of workers in meeting arbitrary metrics. On average, a call-center worker is subjected to five forms of bossware, which stand at their shoulders, marking them down and brooking no debate.

For example, when an experienced call center operator fielded a call from a customer with a flooded house who wanted to know why no one from her boss's repair plan system had come out to address the flooding, the operator was punished by the AI for failing to try to sell the customer a repair plan. There was no way for the operator to protest that the customer had a repair plan already, and had called to complain about it.

Workers report being sickened by this kind of surveillance, literally – stressed to the point of nausea and insomnia. Ironically, one of the most pervasive sources of automation-driven sickness are the "AI wellness" apps that bosses are sold by AI hucksters:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/03/15/wellness-taylorism/#sick-of-spying

The FTC has broad authority to block "unfair trade practices," and Bedoya builds the case that this is an unfair trade practice. Proving an unfair trade practice is a three-part test: a practice is unfair if it causes "substantial injury," can't be "reasonably avoided," and isn't outweighed by a "countervailing benefit." In his speech, Bedoya makes the case that algorithmic management satisfies all three steps and is thus illegal.

On the question of "substantial injury," Bedoya describes the workday of warehouse workers working for ecommerce sites. He describes one worker who is monitored by an AI that requires him to pick and drop an object off a moving belt every 10 seconds, for ten hours per day. The worker's performance is tracked by a leaderboard, and supervisors punish and scold workers who don't make quota, and the algorithm auto-fires if you fail to meet it.

Under those conditions, it was only a matter of time until the worker experienced injuries to two of his discs and was permanently disabled, with the company being found 100% responsible for this injury. OSHA found a "direct connection" between the algorithm and the injury. No wonder warehouses sport vending machines that sell painkillers rather than sodas. It's clear that algorithmic management leads to "substantial injury."

What about "reasonably avoidable?" Can workers avoid the harms of algorithmic management? Bedoya describes the experience of NYC rideshare drivers who attended a round-table with him. The drivers describe logging tens of thousands of successful rides for the apps they work for, on promise of "being their own boss." But then the apps start randomly suspending them, telling them they aren't eligible to book a ride for hours at a time, sending them across town to serve an underserved area and still suspending them. Drivers who stop for coffee or a pee are locked out of the apps for hours as punishment, and so drive 12-hour shifts without a single break, in hopes of pleasing the inscrutable, high-handed app.

All this, as drivers' pay is falling and their credit card debts are mounting. No one will explain to drivers how their pay is determined, though the legal scholar Veena Dubal's work on "algorithmic wage discrimination" reveals that rideshare apps temporarily increase the pay of drivers who refuse rides, only to lower it again once they're back behind the wheel:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/12/algorithmic-wage-discrimination/#fishers-of-men

This is like the pit boss who gives a losing gambler some freebies to lure them back to the table, over and over, until they're broke. No wonder they call this a "casino mechanic." There's only two major rideshare apps, and they both use the same high-handed tactics. For Bedoya, this satisfies the second test for an "unfair practice" – it can't be reasonably avoided. If you drive rideshare, you're trapped by the harmful conduct.

The final prong of the "unfair practice" test is whether the conduct has "countervailing value" that makes up for this harm.

To address this, Bedoya goes back to the call center, where operators' performance is assessed by "Speech Emotion Recognition" algorithms, a psuedoscientific hoax that purports to be able to determine your emotions from your voice. These SERs don't work – for example, they might interpret a customer's laughter as anger. But they fail differently for different kinds of workers: workers with accents – from the American south, or the Philippines – attract more disapprobation from the AI. Half of all call center workers are monitored by SERs, and a quarter of workers have SERs scoring them "constantly."

Bossware AIs also produce transcripts of these workers' calls, but workers with accents find them "riddled with errors." These are consequential errors, since their bosses assess their performance based on the transcripts, and yet another AI produces automated work scores based on them.

In other words, algorithmic management is a procession of bee-watchers, bee-watcher-watchers, and bee-watcher-watcher-watchers, stretching to infinity. It's junk science. It's not producing better call center workers. It's producing arbitrary punishments, often against the best workers in the call center.

There is no "countervailing benefit" to offset the unavoidable substantial injury of life under algorithmic management. In other words, algorithmic management fails all three prongs of the "unfair practice" test, and it's illegal.

What should we do about it? Bedoya builds the case for the FTC acting on workers' behalf under its "unfair practice" authority, but he also points out that the lack of worker privacy is at the root of this hellscape of algorithmic management.

He's right. The last major update Congress made to US privacy law was in 1988, when they banned video-store clerks from telling the newspapers which VHS cassettes you rented. The US is long overdue for a new privacy regime, and workers under algorithmic management are part of a broad coalition that's closer than ever to making that happen:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/12/06/privacy-first/#but-not-just-privacy

Workers should have the right to know which of their data is being collected, who it's being shared by, and how it's being used. We all should have that right. That's what the actors' strike was partly motivated by: actors who were being ordered to wear mocap suits to produce data that could be used to produce a digital double of them, "training their replacement," but the replacement was a deepfake.

With a Trump administration on the horizon, the future of the FTC is in doubt. But the coalition for a new privacy law includes many of Trumpland's most powerful blocs – like Jan 6 rioters whose location was swept up by Google and handed over to the FBI. A strong privacy law would protect their Fourth Amendment rights – but also the rights of BLM protesters who experienced this far more often, and with far worse consequences, than the insurrectionists.

The "we do it with an app, so it's not illegal" ruse is wearing thinner by the day. When you have a boss for an app, your real boss gets an accountability sink, a convenient scapegoat that can be blamed for your misery.

The fact that this makes you worse at your job, that it loses your boss money, is no guarantee that you will be spared. Rich people make great marks, and they can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent. Markets won't solve this one – but worker power can.

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

[tekmaticinc]

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[revelboo]

I know the Readers are weirded out on how Bots recharge, they be just still and unmoving.

Comparing to us humans who toss and turn maybe even talk, worse sleeping walking

I have to imagine a bot with a human that sleepwalks would just about lose it the first time it happens, especially if they don’t realize and their little human nearly walks off the edge of the berth before they can grab for them in a panic

🔞 Mass displaced mech 🌶️

Recharge

MTMTE Megatron

• Bottom lip between your teeth as you sit up on Megatron to straddle the mass displaced mech’s chassis, you lean over him. Maybe it’s the living robot thing or just an alien thing, but sometimes he doesn’t look alive when he’s recharging. Know the thought is stupid, but it’s still there. Because he doesn’t often move, optics shuttered, no rise and fall of his chest, because he doesn’t breathe. Just vents to cool himself off or whatever and that’s so quiet right now, you can barely hear it. But he’s warm under you as you reach to touch his cheek.

• Sometimes it still strikes you funny and you feel off balance when you really think about the fact that you’re in love with an alien. Sometimes you have the errant thought that maybe this isn’t real. Maybe you were in an accident and you’re in a hospital bed in a coma dreaming smutty dreams. Fingertips sliding along his jaw and down against the mesh of his neck, he makes a noise under you, a low, rumbling. Still recharging.

• Freezing as he clears his vents softly and stills, you relax. Fingers mapping out that handsome face. Remembering last night and warming. His mouth on you, big heated servos sliding against you. You’d managed to rile him up enough he’d not been so carefully in control as normal. Had let loose somewhat and it had been amazing. You wonder if he dreams as you lean to brush your mouth against his neck. “Thank you for last night,” you whisper, tongue tracing a cable and you hear a noise, glancing back and almost laughing. Because he’s recharging, but he still released his spike for you.

• Biting your lip as you carefully scoot back, you move slowly, hips lifting to slide yourself against him. Hear him growl something incoherent in his own language, head turning. Still out. And you guide him to you, sinking down on his spike with a whimper. Because this part of him is definitely awake and eager. Hips rolling against him, Megatron groans, head lifting to stare at you. “Morning, sleepy head,” you whisper, moving against him.

• Staring as you lazily bounce on his spike, he’s not fully online yet as his hand skims against your warm skin. But what a way to come out of recharge, with your slick heat wrapped around him. Smiling listening to your needy sounds as you ride him, he’s lets you have your way, hands sliding to your hips to help you move faster when your motions falter, breath catching. And you come apart, milking his spike. Your little hands grabbing his wrists for balance as he moves you on his spike, his own hips lifting, gritting his denta when you moan his name. Dragging you down flush against him as he shudders with his overload, helm thumping against the berth, venting raggedly. “Good morning,” he manages, the words more growl than anything else as you stretch out on him, hips rocking as you get comfortable with his spike still buried inside you, his excess wetting his plating.

[ozzgin]

Its been 6 months😭😭 pleaasseeee make a part 2 of the android x human story im beggingggg😭

-H❤️

Yandere! Android x Reader (II)

Featuring your assigned android partner who is not as devoid of humanity as you originally thought.

Content: female reader, AI yandere, mildly NSFW, based on Caves of Steel

[Part 1] | [More original works]

The case had been solved.

Not only that, but you'd managed to prove that human officers were just as efficient as their robot counterparts. The Commissioner was beyond ecstatic, pacing back and forth in his office and finding new ways to praise your detective skills.

"That'll show those Spacers. They think some glorified tin box can match our skill?"

You frowned at his words and glanced to your side, where the android was sitting. He observed the Commissioner with the same polite smile, no hint of disagreement on his features. Was he not insulted? You questioned him once the formal meeting had finished.

"I have no reason to be offended, (Y/N). It is a personal opinion, and thus I have no control over it."

"So you don't mind people disliking robots to such an extent?"

He pondered your statement.

"I would certainly be upset if it was you who harbored the disdain. The beliefs of other humans hold no meaning to me otherwise."

You couldn't tell if he said it out of politeness, or if he actually meant it. Most likely the former, in order to part on good terms. After all, your partnership has reached its completion. He'd return to the Spacer Colony with his report on human customs, and you'd go back to your regular job.

Except he never left. Days later, he was still sipping on his morning coffee, lounging at your table. You fiddled with your cup in contemplation. Was there anything else left to do?

"When are you leaving, actually?"

The pale man raised his eyebrows in mild surprise.

"Is my presence here of such significant disturbance?"

"What? No!" you swiftly exclaimed, stumbling on your words. His lips widened in yet another cheeky grin. He was teasing you again.

"My assignment on Earth is done, thus I should have returned to the Colony already. That's what you're wondering about, yes? I am awaiting a response from my superiors."

"Whether you can go back?"

"No, whether my transfer has been accepted. I have applied to be your permanent partner."

You could feel your cheeks burning with heat. Was it that obvious to the synthetic that you enjoyed his company? Then again, he wouldn't have gone through such motions just for your sake.

"Why did you..." you probed sheepishly. There was no logical reason for him to keep working in a poorer, less advanced environment.

"Because I want to continue spending time with you."

Nonsense. An artificial being wouldn't make its decision based on such mundane, emotional reasons.

"I don't believe you."

"I understand. It is a faulty answer to come out of a machine. Though unlike common AI assistants, we have been invested with the capacity to develop likes and dislikes. Interests. Wants. It helps with variety and individualization."

"And you want to stay here? If I didn't know you any better, I'd say you have a crush on me or something", you attempted to joke.

A few moments of uncomfortable silence. Had you gone too far with your humor? Was it too cliché of a sentence? You turned away, tucking some strands of hair behind your ear. You just had to be witty, huh?

"I'm afraid I do not know what to tell you, (Y/N)."

"You don't need to say anything, it was a poor choice of-"

"Many social aspects have been implemented into my behavioral network. Workplace rapport, friendships, intimate relationships. What seems to be lacking is the transition from one to another. I know how to act as a romantic partner, but how does one achieve such a title in the first place?"

You gazed at him, incredulous. What was he trying to say?

"I am trying to convey that I am indeed infatuated with you. Which, then, makes my initial explanation dishonest: while I do appreciate our fruitful work cooperation, it is not a main reason for my decision. I hope this clears up any misunderstandings."

You'd never been a romantic. You sometimes flipped through sample pages of contemporary romance books at stores and community centers, but they always felt forcefully cheesy. Predictable. Consequently, you never had any grand dreams of passionate confessions under the rain.

On the other hand, you also didn't expect to be asked out in such a mechanical, calculated manner. Or that a machine would be the suitor. Yet there was something charming about his approach. For the first time since meeting him at the border, you saw him struggle. There was something human-like in his uncertainty.

You stood up from the table, and walked towards the android. Then, you placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, expressing the mutual feeling and understanding.

His eyes bore an eerie glint to them. It was most kind of you to offer a common ground, but he knew better. The affections you held for him were, with utmost certainty, a mere fraction of whatever overwhelmed him from the moment he encountered you. Limerence, obsession, compulsion, there were many definitions that aptly described his otherwise unexplainable desires towards you. Even more unexplainable was the fact they'd evolved from a blank slate, a programmed agent with no previous knowledge on feelings or humans.

You noticed his hesitation.

"Is there anything else troubling you presently?" you nudged.

Nothing of immediate urgency. Well, not for you, at least. The android remained thoughtful. What were the variables which needed to be met in order to initiate a sexual encounter? Would it have been inappropriate for him to suggest intercourse straight after this conversation? To him, it was a natural escalation he'd considered many times in the past. To you, it could've come as a sudden, crass, and hurried proposal.

He reached for your wrist and discreetly pressed a thumb against your skin. Judging from your resting heart rate, facial expression, and localized temperature, there was a fair chance you wouldn't reject his advances. Once the statistical risk had been assessed, he pulled you in for a kiss.

"Would it be possible to continue this in your bedroom?" he inquired, standing up.

"Alright, just don't...ask for approval for every single step" you retorted. You'd rather not become a narrator of your own pounding.

You open your eyes with a squint, greeted by unexpected natural light flooding your bedroom. Someone must’ve lifted the hologram blinds.

“My apologies, I hadn’t considered the discomfort it would cause you. My Spacer colony uses artificial lightning, though I am becoming rather fond of the natural sun rays here.”

Your android partner is meticulously preparing his outfit for the day. Judging by the stark nakedness and the glistening skin, you suppose he’s had a shower while you were still sleeping. You involuntarily furrow your brows and blush at the sight. He notices your embarrassment. 

“A most surprising reaction. You have seen the very same genital organ…”, he says as he quickly checks his wristwatch, “...precisely eight hours and forty-five minutes ago.”

��It’s just…most people get dressed once they start doing other things. I also wear a towel for coverage when I come out of the shower.”

He processes your words.

“Hmmm. Illogical, but it explains your reaction.”

You stand up and stretch with a prolonged yawn. Suddenly, a revelation hits you: your mind flashes with images of the android fondling your body, your ears ring with the shameless moans you’ve let out throughout the night. Your face turns pale.

“Listen, when is your next functional inspection?” you ask, without waiting for the synthetic to answer. “Will they, uh…will they have access to all of your memories?”

You know that the android permanently records all data and saves it into a memory unit. It’s a pointless fear, of course. The Spacers couldn’t care less about irrelevant details. If the intended tasks are fulfilled, what happens on the side is out of their concern. Yet you don’t exactly appreciate the possibility of your personal deeds airing like this, before the eyes of multiple engineers. 

“You may rest assured, whatever involves your privacy will not be included in the examination.”

“Do you get to decide what is checked and what isn’t?”

“No, most data is sampled randomly.”

You stare at him, confused.

“Then how-”

“It is not common practice, nor encouraged by our code of ethics. I can, however, choose which information is available to begin with.”

“What? I thought you’re fully controlled by whoever created you. If they so desired, couldn’t they open you up and take whatever they require?”

The robot smiles at your assumption and takes a few steps towards you.

“Once an android model is finished, one can no longer modify the processor. Not without compromising everything else with it. It is not a device to be deconstructed, (Y/N).” He taps his temple, then continues: “I am a biocomputer. While most of my parts are mechanical, my processor is a cortical organoid developed in a laboratory. A human brain, if you will.”

Somehow, the discovery fills you with dread. A living organ, encapsulated within a machine. What does that say about consciousness? About self-awareness? The Spacers didn't just tinker with metal scraps and smart computers. They artificially birthed life.

You were always under the impression that your robot companion is closer to the computer you have on your desk. Billions of lines of code within a black box, which then lead to spontaneous, novel interactions with the outside world. To think that at the very core of his functions lies a clump of living cells...

Perhaps you weren't so different, after all. The line between machines and humans is suddenly blurred.