CES robots take on cleaning, fun and personal assistance

13 hours ago Jan. 10, 2014 - 5:48 PM PST

After a visit from home entertainment robot Keecker last week, it was obvious that CES 2014 would host some exciting robots. Here are a few that offered unusual or just plain awesome applications:

Watch the video; these things look fun. The MiniDrone is all the fun of a drone in a design that wont destroy the inside of your home (well, maybe a little), while the Jumping Sumo is like a modern remote controlled car that can actually leap several feet into the air.

These should appeal to both kids and adults. Ive got my eye on the MiniDrone mostly, which can be attached to a set of large wheels to roll on the floor, wall or ceiling.

The WinBot seemed to win the most media attention this week, as it tackles a universally hated task: window cleaning. Its a Roomba for your windows. It adheres via an internal vacuum and has a backup system to prevent it from falling. It looks like it takes more work to keep up than a Roomba, but for people with large or tall windows, this could be a nice tool.

What else do people hate cleaning? Grills. Enter Grillbot. This little guy chugs along the surface of your grill cleaning it with a spinning brass or stainless steel brush.

Unlike a Roomba, Grillbot isnt smart enough to keep itself from falling off a ledge. So if your grill doesnt have a lip, youll have to close the cover and let it do its work in peace.

The FamiBot, which, like the WinBot, is made by EcoVacs, reminded me a little bit of Keecker. Its a general-purpose bot meant to assist the entire family, whether thats by playing music or monitoring the home for intruders. It has some unexpected features like the ability to detect smoke and purify air. It can also integrate with other electronics to turn them on or off.

Originally posted here:
CES robots take on cleaning, fun and personal assistance