Robots are taking on lots of tasks they couldn’t manage just a decade ago. At what point will they cross a line? For some, it might be eyelash extensions.
What’s an eyelash extension?
You might be familiar with false eyelashes. They are strips of artificial eyelashes which are glued temporarily to the skin. Eyelash extensions, on the other hand, are glued directly to the lash. They are semi-permanent, whatever that means, and last for a couple of months before needing to be redone. The technician spends an hour or two gluing 80-140 individual silk or fur lashes to each eye, and the cost ranges from $100 to $500.
Robots can do this?
One salon, Luum, has robots doing much of the work. Human operators set clients up, clean their eyelids, and apply tape. Then the robots jump in. They isolate lashes and glue a lash extension to each natural lash. The human being returns to even up the work and make sure everything is hunky-dory.
It usually is. The robots have “feather-light” plastic wands to work with. These wands are attached to the robots with magnets, and designed to fall away if they come into contact with any part of the client’s face or body aside from an eyelash. The requirement here is for precision, not power, so the robots aren’t moving with the force we see in factories.
Robotic cameras and AI are involved, according to the Luum website. They claim that their robots are safer than human operators doing this task.
It’s all about precision
Indramat motion control systems have been around for a long time and they have always been known for their combination of precision and power. These factors are key for applications like printing presses and machining tools. They may not be the right combo for lash extension robots. We’re still not sure that we want robots that close to our eyes.
Whether you’re ready for robotic lash artistry or not, if you need support for your Indramat motion control systems, we can help. Call for immediate assistance.