Robot vacuum cleaners will double as digital guard dogs capable of detecting intruders by sight and smell in the near future, LG has suggested.
With robot vacuums still in their infancy, LG has suggested that the market will come in for dramatic overhaul in the near future, with devices adding a range of new functionality including the ability to alert homeowners to intruders and house fires.
“Robot vacuum cleaners will cover home security as well in the future,” Kevin Cha, Senior VP of Home Appliances at LG told TrustedReviews at the company’s HQ in Seoul, South Korea. “Mobile communications such as cell phones can be connected with devices like the Hom-bot and you can see your home from your mobile phone,” he stated.
Offering up details on the potential capabilities of future robot vacuum cleaners, Cha added: “The robot can detect the smell of a thief or of fire accidents, and the machine can also talk with you through your communication device.” Hinting at the expected timeframe for such advancements, the LG VP went on to add: ”This has already been realised.”
Despite teasing the potential capabilities of future device, Cha suggested that the fundamental elements of the company’s robot vacuum cleaner range need to be improved first. Although having cited a 94 per cent cleaning efficiency, he stated: “I believe that it will take some time before robot vacuum cleaners replace the traditional vacuum cleaner. I believe that the cleaning and suction capabilities need to be further developed.”
He added: “Our focus will be related more to human touch communications and home security but of course we will continue to upgrade the basic functions of the vacuum cleaner.”
With the robot vacuum cleaner market widely seen as little more than a gimmick by many and openly criticised by some traditional vacuum manufacturers, LG has been keen to stress the potential of the market, albeit in refreshingly realistic measures.
“There are around 20,000 robot vacuum cleaners sold in the UK every year but that number is increasing all the time,” Andy Mackay, LG’s UK Commercial Director of Consumer Electronics said. “Logically though of course, robot products are not going to replace conventional vacuum cleaners overnight, or even really at any point. However, these products are now growing fastest in the market.
