IFA 2018: Ecovacs Adds AI Upgrade To Cleaning Bots
Chinese-based Ecovacs has sought to make its robotic cleaners even smarter, debuting new artificial intelligence software, which will recognise and avoid objects.
Ecovacs’ new AI-enabled upgrade – named ‘AIVI (Artificial Intelligence and Visual Interpretation) – introduces object and spatial recognition to the company’s stable of robotic cleaners.
Working with Ecovacs’ existing Smart Navi technology, robots will now better adapt to a user’s home, providing a more optimised floor cleaning route.
“We expect this innovation will set a new standard for floor cleaning robots by truly taking the hassle out of floor cleaning for users,” claims David Qian Ecovacs Robotics Board Deputy Chairman and President of International Business Unit.
Powered by AI, Ecovacs’ robots will use deep learning capabilities to avoid household items that typically obstruct floor cleaning robots – e.g. cables, shoes, slippers, dustbins, doorsills and rugs.
The innovation claims to minimise picking up items prior to use.
Ecovacs asserts AI is only used to match a robot’s surroundings with identified obstacles, with no images sent to the company or third parties.