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The Evolution of Robot Vacuum Cleaners!
February 13, 2023

By Deborah Toppo

Who would’ve thought we could have a robot vacuum cleaner to take care of all that mess?
I know, right? Let’s take a peek and unfold the mystery

Robot vacuum cleaners, thanks to James Dyson becoming a reality, began in 1996. Electrolux, the well-known Swedish Appliance Manufacturer, quickly saw potential in this new invention and purchased it from Dyson. And soon after, we had the Trilobite, the world’s first fully functioning robot vacuum cleaner. Because of its novelty, it appeared on BBC’s science TV program, Tomorrow’s World

Electrolux Robot Vacuum
Electrolux Robot Vacuum

The significant milestone in Robovac came from Britain when Dyson made their variant known DC06 in 2001. Due to its high cost, this model never made it to the marketplace. However, it wasn’t going to be a long wait for the World’s First Commercially Viable Robotic Vacuum Cleaner.

A year later, iRobot, an American Advanced Technology Company, launched the Roomba. By the end of that year, the iRobot Roomba’s popularity proved to be so massive that 50000 units were produced. To date, Roomba has over 40 models in various price ranges. In addition to that, Neato Robotics made an XV-11 Robotic Vacuum that uses laser-vision.

The next breakthrough in Robotic Technology came from Dyson in 2014. The company produced a Robovac with a 360-degree camera mounted on it. The aim of the design here was to improve the robot’s navigational ability to have much more suction power than any previous robotic vacuum cleaners. Since then, all manufacturers have worked to enhance their robots.

Robotic vacuum cleaners can now scan a room and work out the best cleaning path while avoiding obstacles. This is all made possible thanks to technological advancements and improved artificial intelligence.

How does AI help improve robot vacuum cleaners? Thanks to AI, robots now have long-term memories. They can continuously update their movements during every clean and find better ways to improve their cleaning path. The suction power of these robot vacuum cleaners has also come a long way because of longer-lasting lithium-ion batteries and super-efficient brushless electric motors. They also work for more extended periods before recharging the battery.

Robot vacuum cleaners have come a long way in the last two decades. It makes you wonder what’s in store for us in the future as AI and technology keep improving faster and rapidly.

Australian-owned companies contribute significantly to our economy. Their success helps create jobs and generate wealth, which flows back into the community through taxation and other means. This is vital for keeping Australia solid and prosperous.

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