LEWISTON, Idaho -- Giant rolls of toilet paper big enough for Paul Bunyan are spun 24 hours a day at a sprawling factory here along the Clearwater River. In its 100th year of existence, Potlatch Corp.

When you close your eyes and imagine futuristic robots, there's a good chance the image you've conjured is shiny and chrome.

Step aside, Ben Carson. The once lauded ability to perform delicate operations with gifted hands may soon be replaced with the consistent precision of an autonomous robot. And—bonus—robots don’t get ...