Saturday, July 05, 2025

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Robots Successfully Relocate Entire Shanghai City Block

Robots deployed to navigate and manage Shanghai city block

From Hacker News Original Article Hacker News Discussion

The article discusses a large-scale project involving "smart jacks," which are advanced hydraulic lifting devices operated with significant human involvement rather than fully autonomous robots.

Why it matters: It clarifies the role of human workers in operating sophisticated hydraulic systems, not just robots.

The big picture: Such technology showcases advanced engineering capabilities in large infrastructure projects, potentially rare in Western countries.

The other side: The term "robots" may overstate automation, as these smart jacks require expert human control.

Commenters say: Readers emphasize the importance of human labor behind the technology and question whether similar feats are possible in the US or Europe.