As silly as it sounds, ordinary folks are not allowed to pump their own gas in some parts of this country. I tried to do so once on the New Jersey Turnpike and received quite a talking to. Having others pump my gas has always made me feel uncomfortable, but thanks to some clever Dutchmen, I can remain in the comfort of my vehicle and enjoy full service without the guilt.
The new robotic gas attendants cost about $111,000 (HT: Drudgereport), so it will be interesting to see if they end up being economically viable. However, profit margins in retailing gasoline are only a few pennies a gallon (gas station owners make most of their money selling all of the other things people buy while they fill up), but perhaps the lure of robotic attention will allow gas retailers to add a few extra pennies in margin. Considering the winter we are having, I would have been more than willing to drive out of my way and pay more for robotic service. Once again, the combination of entrepreneurship and technology has conspired to make human life much better.
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