Dyson unveils vacuum robot

Dyson is claiming a breakthrough with a new intelligent robot vacuum capable of 'seeing' its environment and tracking down dirt.

Other robot vacuums feel their way blindly around an environment and may miss patches of dirt as a result, according to Dyson.

The Dyson 360 Eye tracks its position and builds up a detailed floor plan to enable it to systematically navigate around a room. Infrared sensors work with a lens on top of the machine that houses a 360° panoramic camera that can "see" the whole room.

"Most robotic vacuum cleaners don't see their environment; they have little suction and don't clean properly," says James Dyson. "Our 360° vision system lets our robot see where it is, where it has been and where it has yet to clean."

The Dyson 360 Eye vacuum is powered by a V2 Dyson digital motor which is said to provide more suction power than the motors of most other robot vacuums. According to Dyson, many robotic vacuums use relatively low-powered motors to conserve battery life, and this has an adverse effect on suction capability.

The machine runs on all-terrain tank tracks instead of wheels to enable it to maintain speed and direction across all floor types and even over small obstacles. And the Dyson 360 Eye vacuum can be scheduled via a smartphone to clean a floor while it is unoccupied, or even when the homeowners are on holiday.

The vacuum will go on sale in Japan in spring 2015 and will be launched in other markets globally later in the year.