CES 2021: Samsung unveils three robot helpers offering to wash dishes, clean up
Are you ready for a robot maid? Samsung has revealed three android assistants at the Consumer Electronics Show.
Innovation
Don't miss out on the headlines from Innovation. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It’s been a long time since The Jetsons predicted we’d be using robotic maids but, if you believe Samsung, that promise may finally be close.
The South Korean tech giant showed off three robots at the Consumer Electronics Show overnight, including an advanced domestic android designed to help around the house, pick up dirty clothes, and stack the dishwasher autonomously.
Samsung Research president Sebastian Seung demonstrated the first robot early in the presentation, receiving a glass of water from the hand of the Samsung Bot Handy which he later explained “can both recognise and grab objects”.
“Bot Handy uses (artificial intelligence) to understand objects like a glass cup or ceramic plate, taking note of their shape and materials to work as your trusted partner” he said.
“Bot Handy can move around and do things like set the table or put away groceries. It flips the script on what a robot in your home could look like.”
Samsung also showed video of the robot using its arm and two-pronged hand to stack the dishwasher.
The company also unveiled a prototype of its Samsung Bot Care robot, designed to recognise its owner’s behaviour and make helpful suggestions, like asking you to stretch when it assesses that you’ve been sitting at your desk too long or reminding you of an upcoming video call.
A third, more practical home helper at CES was a souped-up robotic vacuum cleaner called the JetBot 90 AI+.
In addition to cleaning features, the robotic vacuum is equipped with LIDAR and 3D sensors to avoid crashes, and it can also be used to monitor pets, delivering “real-time barking alerts” and letting users spy on their furry friends using its built-in camera.
The JetBot robot cleaner is set to launch in the US later this year, though Samsung has yet to reveal its price.
The company’s other two androids are merely “concept” robots at this stage, however, and it’s unclear when they’ll be ready to clean up in Australia.