Researchers from the University of Bath and the University of Calgary have published a study that reckons more can be done with the increasingly popular robotic vacuums than just cleaning the floors. We have questions.
The study proposes that the robots can be used for up to 100 other tasks; “Cleaning robots are perceived as limited, single-task devices, but there is a strong argument that they are under-used for practical tasks,” said author Yoshiaki Shiokawa.
“For most of the day they sit idle. We should be extending their utility beyond their primary tasks by programming them to physically navigate the home and perform a range of additional functions.”
Some of the tasks outlined include watering plants, playing with cats using a laser pen (yeah, give the robots lasers, there’s a plan!) and home security.
Robots could also be used to help an older person to stand from a sitting position, receive and deliver packages and carry groceries from the car to the house. Though quite how these small and not very powerful robots could be tasked to move heavy objects, we’ve got no idea, and even the latest with robotic arms can move like a sock, not a bag of shopping.
Shiokawa admits that some of these uses would require upgrades like the provision of additional functions and so forth such as a cart, a helmet and a robotic arm. Why a helmet, dunno.
Co-author Dr Adwait Sharma adds: “The idle time of these devices presents unique opportunities to meet the growing need for adaptable robots and integrated systems that can seamlessly fit into our daily lives.”
The thing is, the robotic vacuum industry has been moving at an incredible pace, and there’s fierce competition on both features and price, so there are new uses and whatnot coming out continuously, as well as performance improvements so if there’s any mileage in this, it’s almost a given the robo vac producers will take note and try to incorporate these ideas. But, if they’re too finicky for general release or, too expensive, it’s unlikely they will ever come to pass.
Meanwhile, the internet will no doubt return to watching videos of cats riding about on robovacs.
