Robot vacuums 'could water plants or play with cat'

The global household robots market size was valued at 10.3bn ( 7.7bn) in 2023 and is anticipated to hit 24.5bn by 2028, meaning such devices are an increasingly common sight in people's homes. Anyone who has watched a robot vacuum cleaner in action may argue these ideas are a little far-fetched, given that current machines sometimes struggle with the challenges presented by rugs and shoelaces while carrying out their core function. However, scientists from the University of Bath and the University of Calgary in Canada, have set out to prove that cleaners - and similar devices, such as lawnmowers - could be reprogrammed and modified relatively easily. Their study identified 100 functions the robots could possibly perform with simple adjustments. Other proposed tasks suggested by the scientists include a reprogrammed robot that carried the groceries from the car to the kitchen.