'I hope one day, a vacuum robot can bring me coffee while I’m sitting on the sofa' – researchers just programmed a robot vacuum to do 4 versatile household tasks

A team of researchers has just reimagined the robot vacuum – not as a humble cleaning machine, but as a multi-functional smart home companion capable of charging devices wirelessly and so much more.

With just a few smart software upgrades, the testers found the best robot vacuums could do much more than clean floors. From projecting workouts to streaming live video from your kitchen, their prototype demonstrates the potential for idle home tech to become active assistants.

It’s a glimpse into a future where smart homes will be less about individual gadgets and more about integrated, multi-functional automated systems that save you time and energy, and make life so much easier.

Unlocking the full potential of robot vacuum cleaners

We've already seen robot vacuum cleaners taking video calls and moving laundry from one room to another, but the latest research has cracked open the full scope of their versatility and usefulness, including charging devices wirelessly and acting as stand-in videographers.

’The study explored how to make robot vacuums more productive by giving them a set of new functions,' says Yoshiaki Shiokawa, PhD student at University of Bath and one of the lead researchers on the project titled 'Beyond Vacuuming', which was galvanized after tracking that these devices remain idle for 18 hours a day on average.

Whilst the study was in the UK, the ramifications of robot vacuum technology's versatility are global. In the US alone, it's estimated 10% of homes have one, and globally, the market was estimated to be worth $45 billion in 2022, a 44% increase on the previous period.

It's expected to be the fastest-growing sector, so unlocking a robot vacuum's full potential will infinitely boost how useful these often-expensive cleaning tools are for owners.

So far, we've seen a SwitchBot robot vacuum that can do multiple tasks like purifying the air and protecting your home, while Yoshiaki's study unlocks the robot vacuum's potential as a handy in-house AI companion.

After devising more than 100 possible uses, Yoshiaki's team built a working robot vacuum prototype and demonstrated four key handy household applications:

• Wireless charging: A phone holder with a wireless charger was attached to the top of the robot, and the robot was programmed to follow Yoshiaki around the house, so that his phone could be charged when needed.
• Small projector: The robot projected videos of a workout while Yoshiaki was exercising. The robot can understand where to project, on the walls or ceilings, based on the context of the videos.
• Cameras: The robot streamed live videos of the home while allowing Yoshiaki to control it remotely, to check whether the oven is off, for example.
• Display: A display was used to indicate the availability of the user to others not in the room with a 'do not disturb' screen.

‘These four applications showcase that our concept is technically feasible. It’s still very much at the starting point, but it’s a good foundation for the concept of utilizing the robot’s idle time,' Yoshiaki shares. 'I hope that one day the robot can bring me coffee while I’m sat on the sofa listening to music.'

None of the smart kitchen tech we have so far has achieved this level of functionality for us, but who knows – maybe one day we won't even need to clean our baseboards, water the plants, or go to the kitchen ourselves anymore.

What future benefits could this bring to our homes?

At a time when smart tech gadgets can transform your home are more commonplace than ever, this vital research taps into a growing desire for seamless, multi-use technologies.

Yoshiaki imagines a future where the robot could inspect the house and identify home maintenance tasks, or give advice while you exercise, making it into more of a companion than a cleaning tool.

Leon Huang, CEO of robotics company RapidDirect, adds, ‘Robot vacuums have the hardware foundation – mobility, basic sensing, and a compact form factor – that makes them ideal candidates for multi-use adaptation. When paired with even modest peripherals like a charging module or camera, they become modular household platforms.’

'We’re moving toward modular autonomy – think of one base bot that can vacuum in the morning, check oven safety in the afternoon, and follow your pet with a treat dispenser in the evening,' he continues.

You'd still need one of the best cordless vacuums for more focused cleaning, but in this future world, the robot does more than a gentle floor clean.

Leon points out that this evolution won’t replace tasks entirely, but it's possible that one day, a robot can remove stains from countertops or even do your laundry.

This aligns with Yoshiaki's vision. He says, ‘We see a product as somewhere between a humanoid and a Roomba. We hope it can do more while staying small enough to go under the sofa,’ he says.

He also notes the possibility of additional robot vacuum attachments that could expand its functionality while still maintaining the robot’s compact design.

Think of a robot vacuum cleaning base, such as the stylish one found in the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, but with parts that can attach to the robot and automatically be removed when changing tasks.

Meet the experts

Yoshiaki Shiokawa

Yoshiaki Shiokawa is a PhD researcher and a member of the Advanced Interaction and Sensing Lab in the Computer Science Department at the University of Bath. His research interests lie in domestic robots, Human-Computer Interaction and Human-Robot Interaction. More specifically, he investigates and explores the use of robots in households to positively impact people's everyday lives.

Carsten Rhod Gregersen

Carsten Rhod Gregersen is an IoT (internet-of-things) expert with more than two decades in software and innovation. Carsten is the founder of Nabto, the platform providing peer-to-peer communications for connected devices. His areas of expertise span critical domains including cybersecurity, technology regulation, and the impact of IoT.

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