Humans and Robots test case

> I can't imagine that after a certain point, that the cost structure
> of introducing humans would suddenly flip and be competitive against
> robots.
>

Well, I *can* imagine.

Cost x benefits of automation/robotization are in general poorly understood, I
think. Robots are a *very* expensive technology, with *very* expensive
maintenance. On Earth, it is economically viable to introduce robots
(manipulators, and many other forms of automation) just when you want
high-quality, high-repeatability in the manufacturing of your products.
Otherwise, it is often cheaper to just build a plant in the Third World, were
labor force is *so* cheap that you can put a zillion of workers doing the
same task of one robot (though with less quality/repeatability) and still
save money.

So, I would not doubt that a robot-based bootstrap would eventually lower
launch costs/habitat construction costs enough for making some tasks cheaper
if done by a zillion of third-worlders shot into space.

> TangoMan

Lucio