Remote robotics, or the digital re-embodiment of labour

The remote operation of robots in logistics is becoming increasingly prevalent, with robots being deployed across a variety of sectors and operated by workers from a distance. This allows manual labour to be conducted remotely. Despite eliminating the need for physical proximity between the robot an...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: James Steinhoff, Julian Posada, Alessandro Delfanti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pluto Journals 2025-05-01
Series:Work Organisation, Labour and Globalisation
Online Access:https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.13169/workorgalaboglob.19.2.0010
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849428040143077376
author James Steinhoff
Julian Posada
Alessandro Delfanti
author_facet James Steinhoff
Julian Posada
Alessandro Delfanti
author_sort James Steinhoff
collection DOAJ
description The remote operation of robots in logistics is becoming increasingly prevalent, with robots being deployed across a variety of sectors and operated by workers from a distance. This allows manual labour to be conducted remotely. Despite eliminating the need for physical proximity between the robot and the operator, remote robotics still necessitates human interaction to control the machinery, a process we call re-embodiment. This working arrangement introduces constraints on the communities and territories of remote workers. Rather than deviating from traditional labour practices, remote robotics extends the reach of capital and perpetuates existing patterns of exploitation.
format Article
id doaj-art-290ba7e7ee0540d7a9beb1984b3d84af
institution Kabale University
issn 1745-641X
1745-6428
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Pluto Journals
record_format Article
series Work Organisation, Labour and Globalisation
spelling doaj-art-290ba7e7ee0540d7a9beb1984b3d84af2025-08-20T03:28:50ZengPluto JournalsWork Organisation, Labour and Globalisation1745-641X1745-64282025-05-0119227829010.13169/workorgalaboglob.19.2.0010Remote robotics, or the digital re-embodiment of labourJames SteinhoffJulian PosadaAlessandro DelfantiThe remote operation of robots in logistics is becoming increasingly prevalent, with robots being deployed across a variety of sectors and operated by workers from a distance. This allows manual labour to be conducted remotely. Despite eliminating the need for physical proximity between the robot and the operator, remote robotics still necessitates human interaction to control the machinery, a process we call re-embodiment. This working arrangement introduces constraints on the communities and territories of remote workers. Rather than deviating from traditional labour practices, remote robotics extends the reach of capital and perpetuates existing patterns of exploitation.https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.13169/workorgalaboglob.19.2.0010
spellingShingle James Steinhoff
Julian Posada
Alessandro Delfanti
Remote robotics, or the digital re-embodiment of labour
Work Organisation, Labour and Globalisation
title Remote robotics, or the digital re-embodiment of labour
title_full Remote robotics, or the digital re-embodiment of labour
title_fullStr Remote robotics, or the digital re-embodiment of labour
title_full_unstemmed Remote robotics, or the digital re-embodiment of labour
title_short Remote robotics, or the digital re-embodiment of labour
title_sort remote robotics or the digital re embodiment of labour
url https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.13169/workorgalaboglob.19.2.0010
work_keys_str_mv AT jamessteinhoff remoteroboticsorthedigitalreembodimentoflabour
AT julianposada remoteroboticsorthedigitalreembodimentoflabour
AT alessandrodelfanti remoteroboticsorthedigitalreembodimentoflabour