The Missed Future of Home Robots: Wish and Reality

In 1962, the animated series "The Jetsons" made its debut. The first episode, "Rosey the Robot," tells the story of an overworked Jane who acquires a household robot. Sixty-two years later, Rosey remains a cultural icon for the unfulfilled promise of home robots. However, the home of 2024 is not entirely devoid of robots. According to iRobot, over 50 million Roombas have been sold. This represents only a fraction of global sales of vacuum robots. Lawn-mowing and pool-cleaning robots have also gained popularity, but they lag behind vacuum cleaners in numbers. The untapped potential of home robots is not due to a lack of demand or insufficient effort from manufacturers. The problems are complex and include price, functionality, and efficiency. Many believe that today’s home robots either don’t perform enough tasks or don’t execute them well enough. Building a robot that does both would be unaffordable for most people. Longtime iRobot CEO Colin Angle once said he only became a successful roboticist when he became a vacuum cleaner salesman—a humorous comment with profound meaning. Before the breakthrough with the Roomba, the company experimented with everything from baby dolls to military equipment. iRobot succeeded when it focused on a simple task: cleaning floors. The first models were primitive by today’s standards but performed their task well enough to justify their cost. Next month, the Roomba celebrates its 22nd anniversary. The vacuum robot is now old enough to legally purchase a case of Sam Adams. Since its introduction, iRobot has invested heavily in research and development to make the system smarter, incorporating sensors, mapping, AI, and integration with smart assistants. The company also experimented with other robotic categories like gutter cleaning, pool cleaning, and a lawnmower which never made it to market. None of these developments were able to replicate the Roomba's success. At a panel, a woman spoke about her billion-dollar idea: a drone that vacuums, dusts, and does laundry—a great idea, but producing a reliable and affordable model on a large scale remains a challenge. This scene came to mind when Tesla announced a humanoid robot that would work in the factory during the day and do shopping in the evening. Elon Musk knows well how cautiously his timelines should be treated. Before fully functional humanoid robots like Rosey make their way into our homes, simpler machines will need to pave the way. Experts agree that early home robots will be designed for social tasks, caregiving, and housework. The fundamental development work has already been done: Roombas and similar systems have laid the groundwork for what is yet to come. The current state of home robots is represented by systems like Hello Robot and Matic's robotic vacuum cleaners. These products are characterized by simplicity and continue to develop foundational technologies like mapping, manipulation, and navigation. Social robots had a tough year in 2019. Brands like Anki, Kuri, and Jino failed due to price, limited functionality, and reliability. Amazon’s Astro, a $1,600 robot, also failed to gain traction. These failures demonstrate that even large companies are not infallible in this complex market. Following the lukewarm reception of Vision Pro, there is speculation whether Apple might find itself in a similar predicament with its robotic ambitions. Reports suggest that early projects may more closely resemble an Echo Show 10 rather than a full-fledged home robot like Amazon’s Astro. The reality is that home robots are coming, but it will take time and development before they can fulfill all our expectations. Until Rosey’s arrival, we have until at least 2062.