Poo-Spotting Cameras Could Be This Robovac’s Secret Weapon – Gizmodo UK

The biggest problem with even the smartest robovacs is that theyre not actually that smart. They can navigate your home and avoid collisions with large pieces of furniture, but smaller obstacles, like hazards left behind by pets, theyll simply plough right through creating even larger messes. Lucy, a new robot vacuum from a company called Trifo, thinks an extra camera, and AI powered smarts, could finally put an end to encounters of the turd kind.

Revealed today just ahead of CES 2020 getting under way in Las Vegas next week, Trifos Lucy distinguishes itself from an ever-growing list of robotic house cleaners with several features that could potentially improve its independence. That starts with a pair of cameras that should see the world in 1080p, even at night, thanks to a depth sensor that can detect objects and obstacles with minimal ambient light.

Being able to accurately gauge distances would also bolster Lucys ability to intelligently map a room which, in turn, should improve cleaning efficiency. If it knows where its already been while cleaning floors than it wont go over the same areas twice, so its not wasting battery life. Using AI-powered image recognition Lucys cameras can also supposedly recognise objects like beds allowing the robovac to automatically divide a house into pre-labelled rooms based on the furniture detected. This then allows users to specify which room needs cleaning, either using an accompanying mobile app, or through voice commands courtesy of Amazons Alexa smart assistant. It also makes it easier to designate areas the robovac should avoid without having to install unsightly wires or infrared barriers around a home.

Lucys 5,200 mAh battery promises runtimes of up to 120 minutes, but that will vary on the level of suction selected, the terrain it has to navigate (maybe its time to finally ditch the shag carpeting), and the amount of dirt its already picked up, hauled around, and is waiting to empty. More than likely, youll see a full two hours of performance while Lucy is in its autonomous surveillance mode, serving as a roaming security camera for your home that lets you remotely select areas to keep an eye on while youre out.

Most impressive, however, are Lucys claimed obstacle avoidance capabilities. Its cameras and sensors should be able to spot objects as low as an inch off the ground, so items like slippers, Hot Wheels toys, or books, wont get run over and chewed up by the robovacs spinning brush bar. It also means that, at least for larger pets, Lucy could have a better chance of spotting poop before dragging it across the floor as it continues its routine.

Lucy is en route for some time in 2020, and will be priced at $800 ( 610, UK pricing TBA), which puts it on the more expensive end of robot vacuums.However, as anyone with a robovac already roaming their floors will attest, improved smarts could be the game-changing upgrade these machines are more desperately in need of.

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Poo-Spotting Cameras Could Be This Robovac's Secret Weapon - Gizmodo UK