Dyson gives a tantalizing glimpse of secret robot prototypes capable of performing household chores. To complete its projects, the British firm recruits hundreds of roboticists.
In the collective imagination, the Dyson brand remains strongly associated with vacuum cleaners, but the British company offers other products, such as fans. She is also eyeing the side of robots capable of performing household chores. The firm revealed today, as part of the ICRA (International Conference on Robotics and Automation) that one of its divisions was dedicated to the development of such devices. A revelation accompanied by a promotional video allowing Dyson to display its ambitions in robotics and promote its recruitment campaign.
A robot that tidies up, another that vacuums…
At this point, the company has not announced specific models. The video shows several robotic arms designed to perform specialized household tasks like cleaning and tidying up.
One grabs a plate from a drying rack, another puts a teddy bear in a crate, a third sucks dirt off cushions and has chief engineer Jake Dyson wondering if that means he ” will never find crisps at the bottom of his couch again “.
A new laboratory specialized in robotics located at Hullavington Airfield
These robots are only the beginnings of a vast project. The brand is creating the ” largest and most advanced robotics center in the UK » to Hullavington Airfield, not far from Bristol. In its press release, Dyson claims to want “ bring this technology into homes by the end of the decade “. R&D work is carried out in this center, which has been kept secret until now, it is directed by Jake Dyson (son of James Dyson).
To achieve its objectives, Dyson has validated an investment plan of 2.75 billion pounds sterling, of which 600 million will be spent this year. The company is also conducting its ” largest engineering recruitment campaign in its history “. In numbers, 2,000 people joined the company this year, 50% of whom are engineers or developers.
In the coming months, Dyson wants to recruit 250 engineers specializing in robotics, particularly in machine learning and mechatronics, and 700 robotics experts over the next five years. These new recruits will work either in the laboratory at Hullavington Airfield, close to the Dyson Robotics Lab at Imperial College, or directly at the head office in Singapore.
Jake Dyson summarizes: “ Dyson employed its first roboticist 20 years ago and this year alone we are looking for 250 more experts for our team. It’s a “big bet” on future robotics technology that will fuel Dyson’s research, in areas including mechanical engineering, vision systems, machine learning and energy storage. We need the most talented people and invite them to join us now “.
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A video shows us how Daisy, Apple’s recycling robot, operates
Source : Dyson
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