A pair of former Google employees have created what they claim is “the world’s first fully autonomous indoor robot vacuum cleaner,” the Matic.
In the official announcement, the pair say they have equipped their robot with several technologies that allow it to navigate around a household without bumping into anything or getting tangled in wires. First, the square Matic houses five RGB cameras, allowing it to see where it’s going. In theory, this should make the Matic less accident-prone.
If TheVerge points this out in their reportingMost other robot vacuums use a combination of “sensors, bumpers and lidar technology” to move, which isn’t perfect. For example, Roombas have been known to get stuck under furniture. Progress has been made to reduce accidents, but the Matic seems to be on a different level.
The device takes its video feed and processes the information using an internal “neural network” AI to map the floor being cleaned in real time. Matic co-founder Mehul Nariyawala told TheVerge that because their device has a higher level of “semantic understanding,” it can identify “many more items than the competition.” The robot vacuum cleaner categorizes everything it sees into three categories: dirty, non-dirty or unknown. Anything placed in the last two categories is actively avoided.
Notable features
The little guy’s abilities don’t stop at avoiding obstacles. It can also double as a robot mop, as the arm on the front features a ‘wet/dry’ vacuum to capture both spills and dirt. The Matic can automatically switch between the two depending on the clutter it sees and the surface it detects through its cameras. Nariyawala explains that the robot vacuum cleaner prevents carpets from getting wet by moving forward while vacuuming. To mop, he lowers the forearm and starts moving backwards.
What’s really interesting about this robot cleaner is that it can understand commands. It comes with an array of microphones and a speaker so it can respond to what you tell it. For example, you can say “Matic, go clean up the bathroom” and away you go. Based on the demo videos, owners must physically point in the direction of what or where they want the vacuum to clean. Verbal commands are not enough.
Once the internal waste bin is full, it automatically drives to your waste bin, where it alerts you that it needs to be emptied. It’s unknown how the Matic lets you know when it’s time to throw out the trash. One of the demo videos indicates that a notification will be sent via the mobile app.
The container he puts everything in has a dirt capacity of one liter. For liquids, TheVerge says the bag has “diaper crystals” to absorb liquids. At launch, users can subscribe to an optional $15-per-month Matic membership to receive “a steady supply of bags, brushes and (plus) mop rolls.” We don’t know if people can purchase bags or other accessories separately, although we have asked. If we hear back, this story will be updated.
Availability
Don’t worry about any information leaking, because all the information this device collects, whether it’s a map of your home or personal preferences, is all stored in the Matic’s memory. It “operates locally – without any cloud components.” There is no “internet connection required to work”. The only thing that leaves your house is the dirt that the robot picks up.
The potentially quite capable Matic is expensive. Normally it costs about $1,800, but that’s possible too Pre-order now for a $1,500 discount. It will ship in March 2024. You’ll need to pre-order your device by December 31 to get the deal. Otherwise you pay full price.
If you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, check out Ny Breaking’s list of the best robot vacuums for 2023.