Robot butlers to help with household chores available next year
FOR busy party hosts, the idea of having a friendly robot drinks trolley that can collect glasses and offer snacks might seem like the stuff of science fiction.
But two machine assistants called Caddie and Retriever have been unveiled at the CES technology show in Las Vegas and made by Californian tech company Labrador Systems. They are capable of collecting trays, delivering snacks and meals from the fridge and even moving laundry baskets.
The robot butlers have sensors and 3D “vision” so they can navigate through tight spaces and detect obstacles on the ground.
They are controlled through an app or by voice command. The company said they were designed to serve as an extra pair of hands, moving large loads and delivering smaller items around the house.
The devices can be programmed to identify points in a person’s home, such as a fridge, favourite chair or washing machine, and make stops anywhere along the route.
The firm hopes the assistants will be in full production by the second half of 2023 and is already taking $250 (£185) deposits.
When they are available to buy, the two machines will require $1500 up front with monthly payments for 3 years, at $99 a month for Caddie and $149 a month for Retriever, meaning total costs of $5,000 and $6,800.
Although the robots could be helpful for busy households and frantic hosts, they were specifically designed to make life easier for people with mobility problems and those with chronic conditions such as Parkinson’s.
Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, a tech research firm, said this type of robotic technology has previously been available only in factories but is now evolving to be small and affordable enough to have in our homes. He said: “We have to be careful we don’t mix sci-fi with reality, but there are certain functions, like Labrador’s robots, where if you have a mobility issue and need help I think we’ll start to see a lot more of this.”
The robots could be useful in the hospitality industry and care homes, where there is a shortage of staff, he added.