Cocorobo | Robot Vacuum by Sharp
Positive visions of the future always involve robots doing tasks we would rather not do. As time goes on we seem to be getting closer to that goal. Not long ago I wrote about the Lawnbot which was a robotic lawn mower. Now there are robotic vacuum cleaners to take care of cleaning our floors. You may have already seen or even have the Roomba which has been on the market for a few years now. Jumping ahead in technological features is the Cocorobo robot vacuum by Sharp. More than just a vacuum, it has a lights, a camera, smartphone communication, and you can even have a conversation with it!
The Sucking Part
As a vacuum cleaner the Cocorobo looks and works similarly to the Roomba. Basically moving in a straight line until it nears an object or ledge and then moves in a different direction. However the Cocorobo has infrared and ultrasonic waves to avoid obstacles. The ultrasonic waves help it avoid smaller objects and glass that might be missed by the infrared sensor. Automatic vacuuming settings can be set five different ways as shown in the picture above. Whether you want to vacuum the whole room, along the walls, or in certain spots.
Vacuum by Phone
But let’s say you want a little more control over where Cocorobo is vacuuming. Well then you can use the remote control or to be really cool you can use your smartphone. With a special app, you can see what the vacuum sees through its camera. Then using screen controls you can vacuum remotely. Once done vacuuming, Cocorobo automatically moves itself back into its charging station.
Other Uses
When Cocorobo isn’t busy cleaning your floors, you can use it for other tasks also. With its built in camera and LED light, you can use it to search for lost items underneath furniture or in tight spaces. Since it’s internet connected you can also use Cocorobo as a type of security camera or to just check on the kids and pets.
Talk to Me
So you do remember that part where I said you could have a conversation with Cocorobo, right? Well you can because it can understand certain phrases and can speak 36 different phrases in Japanese, Chinese, English, and Kansai (a local Japanese dialect). It will respond to greetings and to questions such as how it’s doing, “So good”. Probably won’t be having deep thought conversations but it can give you a bit of humanistic interaction.
Availability and More
For now Cocorobo will only be released in Japan in June. There are plans to sell in other countries but there are no hard dates. Watch the video above to see the Cocorobo in action. You can also watch this video which has an awesome Japanese cultural advertising feel to it. Here is a link to the product website but it’s all in Japanese and Google Translate will translate only so much.
