Dyson Made a Smart Robotic Vacuum, the Eye 360


DysonDyson, the British company known for making very futuristic looking hand dryers, room fans, and vacuum cleaners, has finally created a Roomba-style robot vacuum. The reason the company waited so long? It claims the technology wasn't there to make a good enough product. I believe them. Roombas were cool, but did they have eyes, super suction technology, and an accompanying smartphone app? Nope. They were just Roombas. The very popular, but very limited autonomous Roombas. Dyson, “after 16 years of apparently flirting with the idea of robotic floor cleaning”, has since put $46 million into the making of a brand new vacuum. The Dyson 360 Eye, as the name implies, “relies heavily on a vision system to navigate and clean your home”.

Dyson2This vacuum is a beast. The robot's specs can't be described without simultaneously talking about its impressively smart senses. Dyson's robot vacuum uses a combination of infrared sensors and a 360-degree camera to map out its environment and plot its navigation. The camera can take up to 30fps; coordinating its shutter speed to the vacuum's movement “ensures accuracy to the millimeter”. This right here is the key to vacuum innovation. We all know robotic vacuums are out there, but how many can you count that can see their environment? Plus, it cleans really well too. Eye 360 uses “high-speed digital motor and cyclone technology”, which founder James Dyson says, “is the key to achieving a high-performing robot vacuum- a genuine labor-saving device”.

Dyson1On a single charge, it will roam and clean for 20-30 minutes before needing a nap. Why the wide variation in battery life? The more pieces of furniture/obstacles for it to run around, the more energy it uses. Dyson's Eye 360 measures 4.72 inches tall, a little higher than the standard 3.6-inch Roomba. This means some obstacles lower to the ground, such as coffee tables and beds, might need a manual human clean. But, according to Dyson engineers, “the height was dictated by the company's patented Cylcone vacuum”, a design you will find the exact same in all Dyson vacuums. Finally, Dyson Eye 360 has its own iOS and Android app for assigning personalized cleaning schedules while you’re away from home. With no official release date or price, what we do know is the 360 Eye is set to go on sale in Japan next spring, with the rest of the world waiting until late 2015.

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