LG plans to launch augmented reality vacuum at CES 2016 … Yes, really

By David Curry December 21, 2015

lg-hom-bot — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Vacuum cleaners are not static anymore, with Roomba and other vacuum cleaners keeping everything tidy while you’re at work. But what if you suspect that your vacuum cleaner is slacking off, or always missing a spot in your house?

LG has the answer. Real-time video of the vacuum cleaner — named the Hom-Bot Turbo+ — coupled with control of the vacuum from a remote location.

All of this can be accessed through an app built by LG to stream video from the vacuum. From there, the owner can see all around the house, and the vacuum’s sensors will indicate if an area of the house has been cleaned.

Users will also be able to have photos sent from the Hom-Bot, and those photos can be stored on the smartphone. That makes the Hom-Bot both a vacuum and a security camera, built into one circular sweeper.

To keep all of this running at a smooth speed, LG fitted a dual CPU into the vacuum, supporting fast decisions.

It is an oddity, but one that could be very valuable for those who don’t have time to clean the house, or who lack security at their door. Users will be able to move the vacuum up to the front door once it has completed its cleaning, and it will still take photos while dormant.

LG plans to bring the Hom-Bot to CES 2016 in January, where it will show off some of the features mentioned above. The company has a whole range of vacuums coming to the event, including a range of CordZero models.

As more companies enter into the smart home market, the opportunity for multiple functions in one device becomes too hard to resist. We suspect LG has more than vacuums to entice the Internet of Things world, which we may see more of at CES 2016.

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