Advancements in home cleaning robot tech

Berlin - The robots are coming and they've got cleaning on their mind.

Robotics technology is designed to make domestic life easier as automatons take over laborious household tasks exhibitors at the IFA gadget show demonstrated.

But despite the potential labour-saving automation that robots offer, their immediate impact will centre on reducing domestic drudgery.

"This is only for households, not for companies," Peter Ni, international business development manager of Ecovacs told Fin24 at the tech showcase in Berlin which concludes on Wednesday.

"If you've got a wife and sometimes, when she doesn't want to clean big windows, you can use this," he said of the window cleaning robot, though he was quick to add that he was speaking from his own household's perspective.

Hype

"No-one likes to clean windows," his female assistant laughed.

The robot is able to autonomously navigate its way on glass panes with a suction motor that prevents the machine from falling off.

Ni also said the company offers an additional safety cable especially for cleaning high rise building windows.

The company also has an AI (artificial intelligence) unit designed as a companion for old people. The robot recognises facial expressions and is able to communicate reminders for medications.

Samsung also entertained show goers with carpet cleaning robots that navigate rooms and controlled from smartphones. The machines operate quietly and are able to avoid obstacles.

Ni said that despite the hype and fear for robotics in many quarters, the machines are designed to make life easier.

"Robots won't take over the world; they will only have to improve our lives. After all, it's a robot, not a human being. They can only do what we want them to do."

Watch this online video of the Ecovacs robot in action:

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