Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Robotic Tech Comes to Home Building

Robotic Tech Comes to Home Building Robotic Tech Comes to Home Building Robotic Tech Comes to Home BuildingThe images and video, when they first surfaced in early 2017, were striking.A spare white room, a scattering of machinery, and a giant, robotic arm that spun around from a set point in the middle of it all. On the floor, at first, there was nothing but a rough outline of a rectangular room. But over time, that changed, as walls began to rise from clumps of concrete that the robotic arms was depositing, following the pattern set out on the ground.Within 24 hours, a complete house stood in the space, completed with nothing mora than raw concrete and materials that were created on site. The final cost just over $10,000.The printed house was a demonstration project put on by Apis Cor, a Russian company that has developed what it calls a 3D printer for the construction industry. The company itself has a sci-fi edgeaccording to its marketing materials, Apis Cor was created with the go al of building structures on Marsbut its work to-date has been entirely down-to-Earth, with new, automated construction tools designed to take some of the work out of residential and commercial construction.A house can be printed in just one day. Image Apis CorThe mobile printer is a smart machine that can be easily delivered to the site, and requires minimum time and energy to start working in the field, the company writes on its website. By hiring a printer for work, you free some of your resources. You save on labor costs, dealing with construction waste, renting construction machinery, tools, house finishing. One printer can replace a whole team of construction workers, saving time without loss of quality.The video of the Apis Cor project went viral for the simple fact that it was amazing to watch a 3D printer create a house from effectively nothing in less than a day, but the work the company is doing is just one partee of a larger effort that is transforming the construction a nd remodeling industries. Long dominated by hands-on, physical labor, new technologies are finally finding their way into these industries, disrupting them in some novel, unexpected ways.A New IndustryTake residential contracting, for instance. The work of home contractors hasnt changed much in the last century or so. A client hires the contractor for a job, they spec out the work, the client approves, and they get to work. The majority of their day-to-day work, however, is still low-tech. They source materials, draw up plans, and complete their projects largely on-site, employing subcontractorsif anyoneto help fill out the job as needed.But what if that contractor didnt need to hire subs to frame out an addition and could instead employ a 3D printer to create a new room for a client?What if, instead of sourcing and transporting lumber to build a deck for a customer on-site, they could simply back up their truck and let a construction robot complete the project automatically?What wi ll that mean for their day-to-day, and what will it make possible for the rest of us?A construction 3D printer developed by MIT researchers. Image Mediated Matter Group / MITWe think that this is unambiguously the future of construction, explains Julian Leland, a research assistant in the Mediated Matter Group and a Masters candidate in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), whose work has been focused on the schools Digital Construction Platform, an automated system that can 3D print the basic structure of an entire building. Both in the long term, where large portions of the construction process will be completely automated, and even in the short term where specific tasks that fit the general criteria for automationhighly repetitive, dangerous, dirty, dusty, usually fairly structured, not without a huge degree of variability between tasks or without any complex decision making required as part of the task.For contractors and other s in light construction, he says, this means handing off tasks that menschenwrdig workers with dont want to or cannot do themselves. Repetitive tasks like scraping the paint off of a building, power-washing materials for later installation or even working in dangerous conditions (at great heights or when dealing with dangerous chemicals or abrasives, for instance) and more. These types of tasks are already being automated on large construction jobsites, so it is just a matter of time before this technology trickles down to the home contracting market.Where this really gets powerful is when you begin augmenting the output of human labor, Leland says. If we can take the human out of the loop in terms of laying foundations or doing super structure fabrication for very large structures, all of a sudden were not exposing that human worker to the dangers of being surrounded by large, heavy pieces of structural material that could fall. That worker is not directly operating tools that coul d injure them. We can see improvements in the accuracy and the quality of the build that were actually producing.Cost Savings, Efficiency GainsIn the short term, these technologies will likely have the greatest impact on the balance sheet.By some estimates, waste levels as high as 30% are common on modern construction and remodel projects. Standard lumber cuts are only available in certain sizes, regardless how much or what shape a contractor might need, and other materials go unused, broken or lost. And that 30% waste adds up to 30% more money being spent to complete projects, based solely on how they are handled and managed.Technology can make construction and remodeling a more efficient, cost-effective process. And additive processes like 3D printing are just the start.There are many other processes that are focused on subtracting, explains Patrick Mays, vice president of strategy with 3D engineering and design software developer Dassault Systemes, and those are having a larger e ffect on residential construction right now.He points to tools like large format CNC router cutters that are used for cutting plywood or other kinds of materials, as well as sheet metal cutters, both plasma-based and laser-based, that are handling metal fabrication for mechanical and electrical systems. These kinds of cutters now are being directly integrated to overall 3D design, which is all unwrapped and then precisely cut, allowing workers to bring in bulk material and custom fit it on-site. Less waste, lower cost.Youre seeing lots of new thinking about how to build buildings, he says.Tim Sprinkle is an independent writer. For Further Discussion Where this really gets powerful is when you begin augmenting the output of human labor.Julian Leland, MIT

Friday, November 22, 2019

Learn About Being a Bounty Hunter

Learn About Being a Bounty HunterLearn About Being a Bounty HunterAs with so many criminal justice and criminology careers, the profession of bounty hunting has been popularized in everything from reality TV to science fiction. Which makes finding out how you can get a bounty hunter job - and what bounty hunters actually do - that much more interesting. Whether itsDuane The Dog Chapman orBoba Fett, bounty hunting gives the appearance of law enforcement light - offering all of the excitement of working as a assekuranzpolice offer without the lengthy hiring process, hintergrund check or all that messy responsibility to protect and serve. What Bounty HuntersDo In the United States, fruchtwein states use a bail bond system, in which people who have been arrested can secure their temporary release from jail while they wait for their trial. They put up a large amount of money that they will lose if they dont show up for court. Often, the bail amount is too high for the arrested subject to come up with on his own. A bailbond agent will put the money up for the suspect, and charge the suspect only a small percentage of the actualcost of the bail. When the subject shows up for court and the case is complete, the bail bondsman gets the bail moneyback. If the subject fails toappear for court - or skips bail - the bail bond agent loses the cash he put up, and cant recover it unless and until the suspect is brought to justice. Thats where a bounty hunter comes in. Bounty hunters - now more often called bail enforcement agents - track down subjects who skipped bail and turn them over to the court system. They get paid by collecting the reward put up by the bond agent, usually a percentage of the original bail. What It Take to Be a Bounty Hunter Believe it or not, depending on the state, it doesnt take much to be a bounty hunter. Individual states have specific laws regulating what, if any, authority private citizens have in arresting fugitives. In most cases, though, there is no training or certification required to get started as a bounty hunter. In theory, and depending on where you live, the day you decide to be a bounty hunter, you can be a bounty hunter. Thats the theory. In reality, a successful bail enforcement agent needs to have a strong understanding of the laws and criminal processes in the states she is working. Given the dangerous nature of the job - capturing fugitives from justice is never safe - she needs to have knowledge of defensive tactics and safe apprehension tactics. Pitfalls of Bounty Hunting Jobs Its easy to see why making a life as a bounty hunter might seem appealing to people with an adventurous spirit. There are a lot of landmineson the road to success, though. For one, what one state may call bondenforcement, another may call kidnapping. As examples,bounty hunting per se is illegal in Florida. In Kentucky, only officers of the peace are authorized to make arrests. Outside of the United States, bounty hunting is almost universally against the law. While bounty hunting may not comewith the same level of regulation, training, and responsibility as law enforcement, it also comes without the protections under which police get to operate. Where law enforcement officers are agents of the state and protected under sovereign and qualified immunity laws, bond enforcement agents dont have the same protections because they operate as private citizens. This means they can be held liable for any injuries or damages that occur as a result of carrying out their job. How Much Bounty Hunters Can Earn Earning potential for bounty hunters can vary wildly, and has everything to do with the abilities of the enforcement agent, the relationships they form with bail bond brokers and the bounties they are able to collect. Its possible for bounty hunters to make more than $100,000 per year if theyre very successful. Youre far more likely to make closer to $50,000 or even less, though. Keep in mind that bounty h unters have a lot of out-of-pocket expenses, so the final net gain may be even lower. The Bottom Line About Bounty Hunting Bounty hunting is not for the faint of heart. You need to be highly motivated, willing to educate yourself, ready to do hard work and able to protect and defend yourself. Though theres often little or no official training or certification required for the job, the benefits must be weighed heavily against the potential negatives. If after a careful evaluation you still think youre up to the task working as a bounty hunter might just be the perfect criminology career for you.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Online Job Search Portfolio - FlexJobs

Online Job Search Portfolio - FlexJobsOnline Job Search Portfolio 71Isnt it nice to find a website that is well-designed, easy-to-use, and tells you exactly what you want to know quickly and without hassle? Or to find a website that instantly inspires you as soon as you see it? (Were looking at you, Pinterest) Recruiters feel the same wayabout finding a job candidate whose application is easy to read, clean, and thorough. They like it when job candidates make it easy to hire them by creating easy-to-read application materials which paint a detailed, well-matched picture of the candidate. Aside from your resume or cover letter, one great way to accomplish this is by creating your own professional angeschlossen job search portfolio. Its a lot easier than it sounds, and it can be very helpful in your job search.Who should set up an online job search portfolio?Anyone with a work history theyd like to show off should consider an online job search portfolio. Specifically, professionals who se work can be easily showcased online are a great match for professional portfolios, includingWriters and JournalistsArtists, Actors, Musicians, PerformersDesigners (Interior, web, graphic, fashion, etc.)Advertisers/MarketersTeachers, Professors, Tutors, TranslatorsScientists and researchersReal Estate ProfessionalsSports and Fitness ProfessionalsEven if you dont fall into a profession that easily translates into a portfolio, you can use an online portfolio to show off your resume with a little more pizazz than a piece of paper or a PDF allows. Professionals from almost any industry could benefit from having an online portfolio.What do you use to create an online portfolio?Creating a website for yourself sounds expensive, but its not. In most cases, its free. Use a free blog creation site like WordPress or Blogger to get started. They have lots of templates to choose from, so you can select one that looks more like a website than a blog for your portfolio. These sites have two grea t things going for themTheyre FREE, andThey make it very easy to set up a basic site, which is all you really need.What else can you put on your job search portfolio?By creating a portfolio using a blogging platform, you can also demonstrate your knowledge of current events in your field by writing the occasional blog post about the news in your industry and your thoughts on it. If you decide to blog on your professional profile, your entries should be well-written, professional and intelligent-sounding, and free of errors or questionable material.What should you anthroponym your professional portfolio?The best name for your site is your name. For example, Jane Smiths portfolio name could be janesmith.wordpress.com, or even janereedsmith.wordpress.com, if she wants to distinguish herself from the other Jane Smiths of the world. If employers are searching for your full name online, the best option is to name your portfolio using your full name as you have it written on your resume. So, if Jane Smiths resume header says Jane Reed Smith, she ought to name her portfolio the same way. Consistency is key, so employers always know what they find is YOURS and dont confuse it with someone elses.What should you include in your portfolio?A brief bio about yourself, your experiences, and your openness to future work Show your personality and be positiveA brief overview of your resume (you dont want to copy it word-for-word, just display the highlights)Links to any work youve done on the web (articles, if youre a writer websites if youre a designer, etc.)Snippets of your work, including videos, pictures, and written piecesQuotes from previous clients about how great you are to work withContact info name, e-mail, and perhaps phone (though name and email are most important)A link to your LinkedIn profile if you have oneWhat do you do after you get your online portfolio set up?Once youve got this set up, have friends and colleagues look it over to make sure its attractive to outside readers, and to spot any errors you might have made. Then, include the link on your resume, in your LinkedIn profile, and anywhere else you can think of. Facebook, Twitter anywhere you think recruiters might find you. Keep updating it, keep it simple, and keep the job search faithDo you have a job search portfolio? Share it with the group by leaving your link below