Domestic Robots

RoboPorter - Helping You With Your Luggage

2008-02-13T19:03:00.001Z

The one bit of travelling I hate is where you've got to lug your suitcases around airports and get a taxi or connect with the train.

Now the RoboPorter is set to help you out with it. You can tell it orally where you'd like to go, such as a taxi rank and it'll take you there.

How cool is that?

Bluetooth LawnBott LB3500 Robot Lawnmower

2008-01-25T19:57:00.000Z

I may not have the largest garden in the world, but it seems massive when it comes round to those Saturday mornings and you can hear everyone in the neighbourhood starting up their Flymo's!

Now the Bluetooth LawnBott LB3500 Robot Lawnmower seems the perfect antidote to those Saturday morning blues!

Kyodo America have improved on their Lawnbott LB2000 with this new model as it has a greater coverage area, increased cutting width, greater climbing capability and longer running time. But one thing that may interest you it's ability to be controled directly or mobile phone via Bluetooth!

Roomba Vacuum Cleaner At John Lewis

2007-12-01T18:57:00.000Z

Wow - John Lewis have the Roomba Vacuum Cleaner in stock for just £149!

Cleaning heaven! The Domotec iRobot Roomba is a robotic, bagless, vacuum cleaner that moves automatically around the house for up to 90 minutes. Its 3-stage process first brushes debris from the edges before vacuuming up; then its 2 counter-rotating brushes pick up larger bits, including dog hair, before a high-efficiency squeegee brush tackles the finer particles. There’s also a ‘spot clean’ facility for handling a spill on the carpet.

Buy the Roomba Scheduler

2007-05-31T10:52:00.000+01:00

Well you can get it from Amazon USA for $298 at the moment.

Roomba Scheduler Bagless Vacuum Cleaner Description
The latest in robot vacuum technology It?s one less chore you have to do. Let the Roomba Scheduler clean your floors instead. And now with set-and-forget scheduling, you can have the Roomba vacuum cleaner patrol your home for dirt any time of day, whether you?re home or not! Its next-generation AWARE robotic intelligence system allows this innovative cleaning tool to automatically transition between different heights of carpet, wood, and tile floors. The Roomba Scheduler works on your agenda. It?s like having your own maid. Except with its low profile, a Roomba vacuum cleaner gets to places others vacuums can?t. This spunky robot vacuum easily cleans up under beds, chairs and furniture. And when it?s done, it returns to its charging base! Roomba vacuum cleaner is the smart way to sweep. The Roomba Scheduler features a patented three-stage cleaning system. Microprocessor-controlled charging system provides 120 minutes of cleaning. Comes with two Virtual Wall units to confine your robot vacuum to a specific area. Scheduling remote included. Ample bagless bin. Stair-avoidance system. Couldn?t you use a robot vacuum? Find out what more than a million homes across America already know: Roomba Scheduler keeps home cleaner. And it can start making your life easier as soon as it arrives. Order yours today!

Roomba Scheduler Reviews
Here's some revies from Epinions:

Srauhala:
Pros: Cleans well, gets under low furniture, saves time, iRobot customer service experience
Cons: Finding place for the charger, moving the charger to different rooms, instruction booklet is skimpy
Bottom Line: Cleans well, especially in hard to clean places, and saves time in our busy lives

anil_tx:
Pros: Super cool toy Works well as a vacuum cleaner Dog loves to bark at him
Cons: Needs constant baby-sitting
Bottom Line: Get one. It's great fun.

Andyman:
Pros: effective cleaning of one room at a time
Cons: unattended operation doesn't cover wide area, can't climb onto area rugs, very loud on hardwood
Bottom Line: Entertaining and useful for cleaning one room at a time. Unattended operation doesn't cover much area. Very loud on wood floors.

R Vayo (From Amazon)
I was sufficiently skeptical when I purchased the roomba scheduler - mainly because my friends are pretty relentless and I figured I'd never hear the end of it if it turned out to bomb. Good thing it didn't let me down!
I have a dog and the hair builds up pretty quickly around the house. On our tile floor, after a few days of no vaccuuming it would pile up and turn into little tumbleweeds, the air conditioning blowing them across the floor! The first few sessions, roomba filled up pretty quickly, well before its 60-minute cleaning cycle was finished. But by session three, rugs that had previously been so embedded with dog hair that I considered tossing them were spotless, and I haven't seen those dog-hair tumbleweeds in a while! The remote is easy to program and cleaning times can be scheduled up to 7 times a week!

The only cons with roomba can't really be helped, due to its size - the dirt tray is pretty small for someone with a dog, so it has to be emptied after every use (which is still better than vaccuuming everyday by a long shot) and there are no attachments, so it's really a floor-only vac. But even with those downfalls, I would recommend roomba anyday!

New Roomba Out In September

2007-05-31T10:39:00.000+01:00

The news is that there will be a new Roomba out this September which will have a whole host of new features such as a "lighthouse" which is a peripheral which indicates which room is being cleaned", an integrated display, easily-swappable parts and a better battery life.

The battery is the most important feature to be improved as it will have 1,500 battery life as opposed to 350.

Another intersting feature is the "automatically-activated virtual walls.

The important facts are the price and release date. Well it'll be around £180 to £250 and should be out for Christmas.

Boston Now About iRobot

2007-05-31T10:36:00.000+01:00

The Boston Now site has a nice review of the history, growth of the iRobot company and it's founders. It's well worth a read.

South Koreans Pass Laws for Robots

2007-05-31T10:26:00.000+01:00

ITV reports that the South Korean government has drawn up a set of rules for robots to protect humans from any harm from robots!

Professor Kim Dae-Won from Myongji University said:

"I think this ethical charter has a critical meaning for the future robot society. To make the transition to the robotics society, we have to change our system and national mind."

A 12-member group which consisted of scientists, doctors and psychologists have drafter the charter which will follow the "Three Laws of Robotics" which was created by the science fiction writer Isaac Asimov.

These three laws are that they must refrain from attacking humans, obey them at all times and must protect their existence. Should this be the "Three Laws of humans"?

I can't believe how one student has reacted. Cheon Joon-Suk has commented "If robot ethics become effective, it means there's going to be restrictions against developing robots." Are you mad? What's the point of creating robots and allowing them to destroy us?

WineBot - Wine Tasting Robot

2006-09-08T16:55:00.000+01:00

NEC and Mie University have worked together to create a robot that not only passes you a bottle of wine but also can establish if it's a good one or not but can name the brand and recommend some cheese!

“There are all kinds of robots out there doing many different things,” said Hideo Shimazu, director of the NEC System Technology Research Laboratory and a joint-leader of the robot project. “But we decided to focus on wine because that seemed like a real challenge.”
Although it speaks in a child-like voice could be off-putting but it can be programmed to recommend types of wine the owner prefers because it can analyse the chemical compostion of any wine it "tastes".

If you like your wine and have a few hundred quid to spare then you may like to buy one. Or if you're like me and occassionaly goes out and have one, a few quid on "house red" will suffice.

A Robot in Every Hone by 2020

2006-09-08T16:31:00.000+01:00

The EveR-1 domestic robot which is able to hold a conversation, make eye-contact and appear to express emotions such as joy, anger, sorrow and happiness has been created in South Korea.

The creator of the EveR-1 domestic robot "demonstrates [that] our robotic technologies are at the forefront of the world," according to the robot's creator Baeg Moon-hong who is a senior researcher in the Division for Applied Robot Technology for the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology in Ansan.

I've got the AI film to watch tonight and have got a copy of "I-Robot" so I get a bit scared when they say that they intend to make robots full members of society!

With industrial robots around every corner of the industrialised world, service robots have yet to take off, but Oh Sang Rok of the South Korean Ministry of Information and Communication said "The market size of industrial robots is almost saturated worldwide … but the market of service robots is only now opening ... Social and economic needs for intelligent service robots to support people's daily lives are increasing with the advance of an aging society."

But these new robots are a step-closer to exhibiting homosapien-like qualities. "For now, EveR-1 can be employed as a guide robot at museums and department stores or as an educational model to read books to children," said the creator Baeg.

The Dyson Robotic Vacuum Cleaner DC06

2006-08-08T16:06:00.000+01:00

Dyson have launched their first Robotic Vacuum Cleaner - the Dyson DC06.

It has over 70 sensors around its body to make sure that you can completely leave it to get on with the job of removing all the dust and lint from your carpet.

Furthermore, it recharges its own batteries as well as working out when the job's done.

However, there is a down side! You can expect it to retail for around £4k - yikes!

Domestic Robots Review: 9/10

SupportPlus Robotic Vacuum Cleaner

2006-08-08T15:26:00.000+01:00

Special Offer - £100.00 Off!

This robotic vacuum cleaner is the perfect household accessory for people who've got more important things to do than hoover the house. Simply switch the smart cleaner on and this clever little machine will automatically hoover the house while you're at work. The built in avoidance sensors will prevent the unit from falling down stairs whilst the light sensor allows it to operate under items of furniture without stopping.

Powered by a rechargeable battery pack, the smart cleaner has six cleaning programmes and three running time settings to suit every size of room and is capable of cleaning and dust mopping carpets, linoleum, wood and tiles. Also included is a remote control unit allowing you to operate the hoover from the comfort of your armchair. Colour may vary between silver and burgundy.

Domestic Robots Rating: 6/10

Buy the SupportPlus Robotic Vacuum Cleaner from:
Alt Gifts - £99.99

MOWBOT PROFESSIONAL ROBOTIC LAWNMOWER

2006-08-07T14:19:00.000+01:00

MowBot is the first truly automatic lawnmower that takes the effort out off maintaining your lawn. Once your MowBot Robotic Lawnmower is installed that's it, sit back, relax and let MowBot do all the work.

The MowBot Robotic Lawnmower is a quiet, clean & reliable way of mowing your lawn without the weekly chore of doing it yourself or the expense of paying a gardener.

Mowbot Features:

Cutting disc with four blades
20 m/min cutting speed
Cutting height 20-70mm
Cutting width 30cm
Maximum coverage 3000 m/2
Average Coverage 125 m/2 per hour
Working time per charge 2-3 hours
Size 57 x 42 x 26 cm
Weight (without batteries) 9.5 kg
Lead batteries 12 V / 12 Ah
Recharging base 24 V / 3.5 A
Transformer 110 / 220 V (double insulation)
Perimeter cable 1.5 mm dia x 150 m
Rain Sensor

MowDIRECT PRICE ONLY £1279 / £1,088.51 (Excluding: VAT)

Find Out More.

RoboSweep Information

2006-07-17T22:58:00.000+01:00

Just like the Roomba, the RoboSweep vacuums your floor whilst you're out at work or watching the telly.

With the RoboSweep you can attach a special disposable microfiber cloth on the bottom of the unit.

We can't find them on sale in the UK anymore. But you may be able to find them on eBay.

Roobma Vacuum Cleaner on Video

2006-06-24T15:21:00.000+01:00

If you ever doubted whether the Roomba Vacuum Cleaner does the job then watch this sales video. Now I'm completely convinced I need one! View more details about the Roomba Vacuum Cleaner.

Karcher RC3000 Robocleaner

2006-05-14T20:55:00.000+01:00

The Karcher RC3000 (Robot Vacuum Cleaner) will clean, completely autonomously, all standard domestic floor coverings. Simply plug in, switch on and the RC3000 RoboCleaner will clean for as long as you want. It will clean difficult to reach places such as underneath beds and wardrobes. Side protectors prevent the robot getting stuck under furniture, whilst special Anti-Fall sensors reliably prevent the RC3000 from falling down stairs. Find out more at Robot Magic.

Category: Vacuum cleaner
Brand: Karcher
Style: Robotic
Power: 18 Watts
Filtration system: Standard
Bin/Bag capacity: 0.2 litres
Bag: Bagless
Weight: 1.8kg
Power type: Mains
Noise level: 54dB

Compare Prices: Kelkoo

Buy from:
Amazon - Recommended
True Shopping - Recommended - £699
Mower Magic
Electric Shopping

Roomba Discovery

2006-05-14T20:43:00.000+01:00

This is the main robotic vacuum cleaner that has hit the market to date.

Effortless vacuuming - just turn on and walk away!

When you're ready to change the way you clean forever, this is where forever starts. This Roomba is ready to work. Charge it up and it's ready to clean. Roomba goes where no upright vacuum dares to roam under beds, under furniture, under kickboards. If there's dirt down there, Roomba will get it.

Roomba is made by iRobot, who manufacture robots for the military and for space exploration. This domestic product is a result of extensive research and engineering, from a company used to making robots for the harshest environments, such as bomb disposal.

Compare Prices: Kelkoo

Buy from:
Electric Shop - Recommended - £139
Robot Magic
Electric Shopping
Deals 4 U

More Details:
Domotec Vacuum Cleaner, Roomba 2 £149 from John Lewis
Cleaning heaven! A robotic, bagless, vacuum cleaner that moves automatically around the house for up to two hours. Its three-stage process first brushes debris from the edges before vacuuming up; then its two counter-rotating brushes picks up larger bits, including dog hair, before a high-efficiency squeegee brush tackles the finer particles. There s also a spot clean facility for handling, say,...

Roomba 2 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner Green Dvu00008 £138.50 from Electricshopping.com
FREE DELIVERY! Second Edition Roomba new model - Twice the power of Roomba 1 Simply press start to begin cleaning and Roomba senses the room size and gets going 'Spot Clean' Roomba can concentrate on a small area like a spill 'Max Clean' Roomba will work until its run out of power Comes with new 'Dirt Detect' Roomba will detect and concentrate on heavily soiled areas Remote...Delivery: 2-5 Days

Vip Roomba £249.99 from electricshop
Automatically switches off when finished Bagless, removable particle bin collects dirt Filter traps dirt and prevents fine particles escaping No magnetic strips necessary Cliff sensor prevents it falling down the stairs Programmes for three typical sized rooms Switches off when picked up Moves from differing floor surfaces effortlessly Battery life indicator Removable particle bin filters Virtual...

Domotec Vacuum Cleaner, Roomba 2 £149 from johnlewis.com
Cleaning heaven! A robotic, bagless, vacuum cleaner that moves automatically around the house for up to two hours. Its three-stage process first brushes debris from the edges before vacuuming up; then its two counter-rotating brushes picks up larger bits, including dog hair, before a high-efficiency squeegee brush tackles the finer particles. There s also a spot clean facility for handling, say,...

Irobot Roomba from Kelkoo
Style : Robotic, Filtration system : Without filter, Bag : Bagless, Weight : 2.7kg

Mowbot Professional Robotic Lawnmower

2006-05-14T20:20:00.000+01:00

The Mowbot is the first automatic lawnmore which reduces the mundane task of mowing the lawn to a minor inconvienience.

And because the MowBot lawnmower (Robotic Mower) can be programmed to mow your lawn a lot more frequently than you would manually, your lawn will look better than ever.

The perfectly cut lawn every day really is achievable with MowBot. Your ideal height of cut is permanently maintained by MowBot, which is continuously nipping out to give your lawn a trim.

Having your lawn trimmed just a little a few times a week is a much more healthy method of mowing your lawn. Manually cutting it every so often can sometimes stress the grass by cutting it back too far, too quickly.

Buy from:
Abbey Garden Sales
Mower Magic
MowBot
Garden Lines

Also try:
Robomow

Electrolux Trilobite Robotic Vacuum

2006-05-14T19:50:00.000+01:00

This is the world's first fully automated vacuum cleaner! With the Electrolux Trilobite Robotic Vacuum Cleaner you can forget about doing the vacuuming forever!

This robot will work its way round your room automatically vacuuming at a time you choose. Once it's done, it will return to its base to recharge. At last, technology that makes life better!

Trilobite Features:

Three Cleaning programs
Microfiltration, so fewer allergens
180 degree ultrasound sensors to find it's way
Automatic stair avoidance
1.2 Litre dust bin capacity
Electronic display panel
Timer
Quick stop
Cable protection system
60 mins running time

Technical Specifications:

Charging Time (Hrs): 2
Noise Level dB(A): 75
Dust bin capacity: 1.2
Wattage: 90
Weight (kg): 5
Height (cm): 13
Diameter (cm): 35
Colour: Satin Cayenne
Guarantee: 1 year

Compare prices: Kelkoo

Electrolux Trilobite Robotic Vacuum Za1 Robot Trilobyte - £ 845.99 you save £ 154.00 !
FREE DELIVERY! Forget about doing the vacuuming forever! This robot will work its way round your room automatically vacuuming at a time you choose. Once its done it will return to its base to recharge. At last technology that makes life better! Three Cleaning programs Microfiltration so fewer allergens 180 degree ultasound sensors to find it's way Automatic stair avoidance 1.Delivery: 2-5 Days

What is a Domestic Robot?

2006-05-14T19:30:00.000+01:00

There are four main uses for domestic robots:

Low Level - this is a basic home robot - a robot that is used for entertainment - such as the Pleo toy.
A Care robot - one to help those with disabilities.
A Chore robot - one to help with the hoovering or ironing such as the Roomba.
Or a domobot which is not only used for domestic chores but is connected to a domotic network.

Robots helps the eldery and disabled with their shopping

2006-02-19T22:33:00.000Z

The Japan Times notes that a new robot that helps eldery and disabled shoppers made its dubut on Thursday at a major shopping complex in Kasuya, Fukuoka Prefecture.

The robot is 1.7 metres tall and was developed by tmsuk Co. and NTT Communications Corp. They've placed it in the Diamond City Lucle shopping comples to see if the robot can be put to practicle use.

How it works is that immobile shoppers touch the screen on the robot to select a store and the robot takes them to the right place. It also has the facility to be romotely operated from a person's home to allow them to see what's in store. Even more interestingly, it can take photos and talk to instore humans.

Machines Replace Humans

2006-02-19T21:57:00.000Z

Just reading an article by Doug Saunders about how humans are being replaced by machines with whole occupations and industries becoming redundant and its giving me a shiver down my spine. This is because he's saying that the world is changing again. We're seeing "workers replace machines".

It's true though. If you look at the economies that have entered world transactional life. You can see that China, India, Poland etc are taking a much bigger part in the world economy in the past decade and the workers that inhabit those worlds are so damn cheap it makes many of our own workers and machines non-cost-effective.

Despite the arguments of a lack of quality service, more and more operations are moving abroad, including telesales, customer support, software development and now construction and engineering.

If you look at this nation now. More and more people have cleaners, nannies, dog-walkers, personal trainers, personal shoppers etc. We're becoming lazy people that need the comfort and the ego-polishing of hiring people to take the "stress" out of our lives. Companies are doing the same. You can hire Eastern-European labour so cheap on the black market that there's no incentive to invest in R&D or training of "indigenous workers".

Those that love gadgets will still buy a Roomba to clean their carpet, but how labour effects our own personal demand for automation is something we'll just have to find out.