Rewrite Don’t resent your robot vacuum cleaner for its idle hours – work it harder! this news headline for the science magazine post

At a time when we run ourselves ragged to meet society’s expectations of productivity, performance and time optimisation, is it right that our robot vacuum cleaners and other smart appliances should sit idle for most of the day?

Computer scientists at the University of Bath in the UK think not. In a new paper, they propose over 100 ways to tap into the latent potential of our robotic devices. The researchers say these devices could be reprogrammed to perform helpful tasks around the home beyond their primary functions, keeping them physically active during their regular downtime.

New functions could include playing with the cat, watering plants, carrying groceries from car to kitchen, delivering breakfast in bed and closing windows when it rains.

For their study – presented today at the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, the premier international conference of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) – the researchers identified 100 functions that domestic cleaning robots could, with some fine tuning, perform during idle periods. They then demonstrated the technical feasibility of working robots harder by reprogramming a Roomba (a popular robot vacuum cleaner) to perform the following four functions:

1. Mobile wireless charger: The robot, fitted with a holder, charged a phone, navigating the home to find the phone user when mobile charging was needed.
2. Workout projector: Equipped with a projector, the robot displayed workout videos on a wall. When it was time for floor exercises, it seamlessly shifted the projection to the ceiling, ensuring uninterrupted viewing.
3. Home monitor: The robot monitored the home remotely, providing live video and task control, such as observing the oven while the user watched and controlled it.
4. Work-status signpost: Fitted with a screen signalling ‘meeting in progress,’ the robot could be sent to a specific location (such as outside a room) to deter disturbances.

Yoshiaki Shiokawa, first author of the study and a PhD student in the Department of Computer Science at Bath, said: “Mobile domestic robots, like robot vacuum cleaners and lawnmowers, are perceived as limited, single-task devices but there is a strong argument that they are under-used for practical tasks. For most of the day, they sit idle.

“We should be extending their utility beyond their primary tasks by programming them to physically navigate the home to perform a range of additional functions. Just think how much more efficiently households would run if Roombas could be converted into household assistants.

“Our study proved that after making minimal adjustments, a Roomba can serve multiple roles around the home.”

Untapped potential

Prior work has investigated how stationary smart devices (such as smart speakers, thermostats, or security cameras) can perform additional tasks when idle, like updating software or processing information.

Researchers have also explored how robots can signal they are powered on and ready for action through subtle cues, such as having lights that fade in and out or gentle movement, even when they are not actively performing a task.

But the new study is believed to be the first where scientists have investigated the untapped potential of domestic robot’s mobility, systematically exploring how a device’s idle time can be repurposed for diverse, value-adding interactions that cover home maintenance, on-demand assistance and pet care.

The range of tasks proposed for future mobile robots would be made possible by developing a series of robot-compatible bases (for instance of different heights), extendable arms and attachable cart.

With the right extensions and attachments, the researchers suggest that robots could immediately undertake some of the proposed new tasks, such as delivering mobile light therapy for individuals with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or reminding users to take their medication and schedule medical appointments. Other concepts, like using robots to predict users’ needs based on behavioural patterns, are more aspirational.

Robots on the rise

Domestic robots such as vacuum cleaners and lawnmowers are growing in popularity and expected to see annual market growth of 18.8% by 2028. The authors of the new study found that on average, a robot vacuum cleaner cleans for just one hour and 47 minutes every day.

Study co-author and supervisor Dr Adwait Sharma said: “Idle time presents unique opportunities for value-adding interactions and it aligns with the growing need for adaptable robots and integrated systems that can seamlessly fit into our daily lives. A robot vacuum could, for instance, use its idle time to monitor home security, water the plants or assist an older person to stand from a sitting position. These tasks tap into the robot’s advanced sensors, as well as its mobility.

Addition function proposed by the study’s authors for tomorrow’s robotic devices – in consultation with 12 global experts with extensive knowledge of robots and AI – include: searching for lost items; managing smart devices, for instance by changing a TV channel; assisting a user in taking a family photo; scanning the fridge and suggesting items to purchase; entertaining children; playing a card game; interacting with a pet; cleaning pet litter boxes and bowls; detecting unusual sounds and navigating within the home to inspect the situation; checking if doors are locked; cooking in parallel with a user; wiping a table; clearing and sorting food waste while a meal is being prepared; notifying family members when a meal is ready by knocking on doors; organising items and tidying up, for instance toys; moving plants for sunlight; clearing paths and alerting users to tripping hazards; receiving and delivering packages when the user is busy.

The research team also included Dr. Aditya Shekhar Nittala, Asst. Prof. at the University of Calgary (Canada), alongside master’s student Winnie Chen and Professor Jason Alexander from the Department of Computer Science at the University of Bath.