Meta (formerly Facebook) is actively monitoring automation opportunities in its data centers, testing robots, and repairing tasks such as reconnecting cables and reinstalling servers.. This initiative, according to insiders, can significantly change the need for human resources to operate the company’s expanded infrastructure, especially in the face of the rapid increase in spending on.

Robotic assistants in Meta data centers.

According to Wired, based on Meta's current and extensive robotics projects, the company is experimenting with a variety of robotic solutions.. For these tests, robotic systems are available from manufacturers such as Watney Robotics, Kinova and ABB. Due to the lack of permission for public appearances, spivozmovniks were asked to lose their anonymity. Kinova and ABB responded to the comments, but Watney Robotics did not respond to the request.

One of Meta's experiments is aimed at assessing the capabilities of the Kinova Gen3 robotic manipulator for cyclic re-engagement of servers - the process of implementation and further implementation of life.. Another robot undergoes testing to replace the hemorrhage cables. According to the estimates of one of the robotic scientists at the Meta data center, if these tests are successful, robotic systems will be able to recover up to 80% of the workload, which is similar to that of humans..

“We thought that the workers, who do this physical work, would soon be in unemployment, but that’s not the case anymore,” says the specialist.. “It’s a pity that this will hit all of us”.

In some data centers, Meta has also quietly released more simple robots. These devices, similar to a finger or a sharpened club, can press the live button on the Mac Mini or other devices for re-engaging, issuing commands to operators remotely.

Meta position and long-term plans.

Representatives of Meta were willing to comment on specific tests of robots, as reported by the statistics. The company's river manager, Francis Brennan, emphasized that Meta is actively investing in hiring and hiring personnel to maintain and operate data centers..

“The United States is experiencing the largest boom in infrastructure activity since the Second World War, and there is a serious shortage of qualified technical workers who could fill the gap. We need more workers, not fewer,” Brennan said..

However, Erik Xu, senior manager of the robotics department at Meta, recently stated at one of the conferences that the explosion of robots in data centers is a “long-term strategy” for the company. It is important that robotization can speed up response to failures, monitor the system and provide preventive maintenance.

“We respect that there is still a lot of spіvpratsі and follow-up ahead, but we must earn the first crumb, otherwise we will never reach this goal,” said Xu.

Technological progress and cost-effectiveness.

Until recently, robots were poorly suited for the execution of precise jobs in data centers. According to the words of these devices, earlier robots were not only expensive, but they also revealed that the servers were damaged due to the loss of simple operations in early tests. Today, the prowess of robotic technology has decreased, and the capabilities of HI-models to operate robots have significantly increased.

A lot of startups have already entered the market, which are developing commercial robots for assembling servers, replacing components and connecting cables.. Equal to human performance, robots offer consistent results at a low cost, especially in densely populated regions where there are few skilled workers.

Victims also steal robots from the point of view of “helping doctors”. The stench confirms that, like shi-agents who help office workers, robots can take on the most repetitive and unsafe tasks of technical staff of data centers, recruiting people for excellence.

In the longer term, data centers will become less dependent on human personnel, their throats in environments that are unsafe for human life, such as the underwater expanse, space and other areas unsuitable for the trivial use of the mind, perhaps.

Paul Golding of Analog Devices, a company focused on “physical intelligence,” says: “More and more customers are telling us, “We want humanoid robots to run data centers,” so.

Reaction of the community and workers.

Given the growing presence of robots, this topic has not yet generated significant resonance among environmental activists and large organizations that oppose the existence of data centers. Want in the USA is gaining momentum against the development of new data processing centers.

Technology companies often talk about the creation of workspaces as one of the key advantages of data center daily life, which helps them recover revenues.. For example, in Altoona, Iowa, where Meta has one of the largest data centers, the company receives significant tax benefits, which allow it to save tens of millions of dollars.. Local power is important for the right exchange, the fragments of the working place, the creation of Meta, also promote recognition of the region.

However, pessimism is already growing in the internal chats of Meta volunteers in Altuna. People say: “We will all be brought together through a number of fates through robots.”.

However, as robotization is expected to increase, it has been realized that some of the jets are turbocharged at lower speeds of their continuous plantings. According to two scientists, Meta is developing a security software and other technologies that, in its opinion, will allow companies to hire less qualified and, obviously, less paid. Some jobs may also be relocated to low-income regions, such as Denver, Colorado..

“They will no longer require people who can think independently, find creative solutions, or solve complex problems. “We need “intelligent hands” – people who are sufficiently qualified to follow our instructions and not get any favors,” one of the specialists said to the Meta data center.

Meta, on the other hand, suggests that if you rely on qualified technical specialists, you will be deprived of extremely high. On this occasion, the company launched a long-term program of cost-free training of thousands of people in the field of electrical, mechanical and plumbing, obligatory training for graduates in various states.

The company also offers professional support services, financial programs for students.

However, at a time when communities are reviewing tax regulations for data centers and considering new regulations, the possibility of replacing part of the workforce with robots will undoubtedly require greater respect. Mer Altouni, Dean O'Connor, saying that while not yet thinking about how robots can replace human workers, Meta, he knows that automation is imminent.

“No matter what happens, we’ll get stuck with this,” said Vin.

Testing in Altuna.

Meta has already demonstrated a flexible robotic tractor for transporting important server racks in its data centers, as well as a separate internal wheeled robot for securing inventory behind barcodes. Microsoft and Google also announced investments in robotics for data centers, and Amazon discussed the use of robots for processing components.

Llorens, a Microsoft Research Accelerator manager, confirmed that the company is “absolutely committed to” hiring robots for “cost-effective” tasks such as “replacing faulty server racks.”.

Meta's robotic tractors and inventory robots are already operating at several of the company's data centers, including in Iowa and Virginia.. However, they may be limited: inventory robots, for example, cannot separate green and red indicators through the limited capacity of the camera, which requires manual input. In addition, robots are bad at handling turns and cable striations.. Through a small number of ignited units, their movements between buildings require manual opening of doors and remote cleaning.

According to other drones, inventory robots are working very hard, and Meta saw drones as an alternative, but this idea.

Altuna as a testing ground.

The Meta data center in Altuna is often used to test new technologies. Mayor O’Connor stated that “everything that is released in Altoona will be distributed on other campuses.”.

Since last year, Meta has been testing two Watney robots at its data center in Altoona to install cables.. Wanting robots to work harder for people under supervision, they demonstrate potential.

ABB also fired up four-wheeled robots at its new Prometheus data center in New Albany, Ohio.. These robots are equipped with manipulators and are now being used to install and secure components, with the prospect of displaying a wider range of products without the need for human supervision..

However, the residual dominance of robots over people has not yet been determined. Helen Oleynikova, CEO of Exclaim Robotics, says that the company is developing prototype robots for replacing components and organizing cables, and “after numerous pilot projects and demonstrations, there are no stable solutions yet.”.

Meta robots also suffer from significant downtime due to the need to charge robot batteries. The company knows that the robots are not yet ready for complex tasks, such as high-intensity cabling for Nvidia GB300 supercomputers.

“These devices were dismantled into human hands, so that skin maintenance would take five hours. It will take an hour to process everything,” – seems like a hell of a lot of Meta.

At the same time, the robots are gradually preparing for the end of the day..

Dzherelo: https://www. ithome. com/0/996/222. htmMeta is testing robots for data centers: read about future services on the HiTech website. Expert.