Matsushita Electric Industrial Co says it has designed a home cleaning robot that it expects to start marketing next year: the prototype battery-powered robot comes equipped with an ultrasonic sensor that detects and dodges obstacles, and other sensors determine the type of floor or rug and adjust the cleaning nozzle accordingly, as well as regulating suction power based on the amount of dust on the floor; after cleaning up, Reuter reports, the dome-shaped robot, weighing 40 lbs, returns to a designated charging station; an industrial version is likely to be priced at between $15,000 and $20,000, too high for ordinary consumers, but We hope to sell a slightly different, less expensive version of the robot for home use, Matsushita Electric said – sounds like just the thing for the spouse of the man who can’t keep his hands off the au pair.
