Samsung Introduces Voice-Controlled Robot Vacuum When paired with an Amazon Echo, you can control the POWERbot VR7000 using voice commands.
By Angela Moscaritolo •
This story originally appeared on PCMag
Heads up, neat freaks: Samsung just announced a new robot vacuum that you can control with your voice, as long as you also own an Amazon Echo.
The POWERbot VR7000 stands at less than 4 inches tall and is 28 percent slimmer than previous Samsung robot vacuums. When you spend money on a fancy robot vacuum, the last thing you want is to see a bunch of dirt that's left behind for you to manually clean up, and that's what Samsung is trying to eliminate with this device.
It generates up to 20 watts of suction power (depending on the model you chose), can pass under beds and other furniture, and even clean within a half inch of walls. The POWERbot VR7000 can map and remember your room, and work around small items less than 0.4 of an inch in diameter, Samsung promised.
It also features a self-cleaning brush system that "significantly reduces the amount of dust and hair that gets trapped in the bristles," Samsung said. That means less maintenance for you.
An "Intelligent Power Control" feature, meanwhile, automatically adjusts the level of suction, based on the surface it's cleaning. So, when it moves from your hardwood floor to a carpet or rug, the motor automatically adjusts suction to accommodate the new surface.
For all its fancy features, perhaps the coolest is the aforementioned Amazon Echo integration. When paired with an Echo, you can control the POWERbotVR7000 using voice commands. If you don't have an Echo, no worries: you can also remotely control the POWERbot VR7000 via an app. You can start and stop the machine, schedule cleaning times and check cleaning history all from your mobile device.
Samsung unveiled the device yesterday and plans to show it off next week at the Consumer Electronics Show. There's no word yet on pricing or availability.
"The POWERbot VR7000 keeps up with the floor care needs of today's busy families," Samsung Electronics President of home appliances Byung-Sam Seo said in a statement. "Just set it and watch it go to work. The POWERbot VR7000's navigational features and sensors combined with slim design and increased suction power help make sure the job gets done."
