The home appliance industry is changing due to aging, the increase of single-person households, and the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Dishwashers, dryers, and robot vacuums are becoming more popular than traditional appliances like TVs, refrigerators, and washing machines. Machines that assist with the most tedious household chores—laundry, dishwashing, and cleaning—are gaining attention. Among these, cleaning is particularly challenging, and the revolutionary solution is the robot vacuum. The combination of AI and robotic technology is advancing further.
Early robot vacuums used sensors for collision and fall detection to ascertain their position and stability. They relied solely on sensor-based navigation, recognizing obstacles only by bumping into them. Subsequently, object recognition capabilities were enhanced by using cameras, but the obstacle avoidance function remained insufficient.
With the adoption of AI-based autonomous driving technology used in cars, the level of robot vacuums has rapidly increased. LiDAR sensors create a map of the home's layout, while ultrasonic sensors analyze the floor condition to find the optimal cleaning method. Customized cleaning based on floor materials is also possible. For instance, when mopping a hard floor, the device raises the mop to prevent contamination of carpets when detected. Object recognition has also evolved with the use of AI, applying 3D sensors and object recognition cameras to avoid high obstacles as well as various objects, such as pet waste pads.
While suction power, cleaning modes, and dustbin capacity are crucial features directly affecting the cleaning performance of robot vacuums, the ability to explore the environment is essential for proper home cleaning. Navigation capabilities must function effectively for the robot vacuum to pass through various obstacles and distinguish between different floor types to ensure thorough cleaning of the entire area. Additionally, it is important not to repeat cleaning areas that have already been addressed.
A smarter robot vacuum thanks to the convergence of AI and robotics
Just as humans need navigation to drive and find their way, robot vacuums require a map to function, even in confined home environments. While cars can save pre-made maps on memory cards and use GPS (Global Positioning System) to determine their current location, robot vacuums lack this capability.
The technology that addresses this issue is SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping). SLAM performs two functions: location estimation, identifying the robot vacuum's position through the cameras and LiDAR sensors equipped on it, and map creation, producing a map of the surrounding environment. AI technology is utilized alongside SLAM to recognize objects, furniture, and appliances in the operating environment, aiding in more accurate location identification and the robot's spatial inference. Therefore, SLAM and AI technology are crucial for the robot to navigate autonomously without maps or location information.
SLAM is broadly categorized into visual SLAM, which uses cameras, and LiDAR SLAM, which measures the surroundings using laser technology. Visual SLAM captures the environment with a camera and analyzes the correlation of the captured images to recognize positions and create maps. Robot vacuums continuously take photographs of ceilings and surrounding features with their cameras while moving, conducting simultaneous analysis of these images. To compare the shifting points due to movement, feature points are fixed in the reference areas to measure changes in position and distance. The first stage of the SLAM map created by the robot vacuum is comprised of the results gathered from these feature points.
LiDAR SLAM shoots laser beams and calculates distances via the time it takes for light to reflect off obstacles or through triangulation, thereby recognizing the surrounding environment. It emits lasers in 360 degrees to detect the walls or contours of obstacles and measures distances, offering the advantage of measuring distances without an additional data processing step.
Initial robot vacuums utilized feature point-based visual SLAM captured by cameras. Subsequently, led by Chinese companies, LiDAR sensor-based SLAM became prevalent due to enhanced distance measurement accuracy, providing more sophisticated maps and navigation paths. Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics have also gained consumer appreciation by applying LiDAR-based SLAM.
In addition to location recognition, SLAM integrates AI technology to identify structural objects like walls and furniture, automatically recognizing every nook and cranny of the home, as well as autonomously dividing and recognizing spaces such as rooms and living areas, and detecting areas prone to obstructions or heavy contamination.
In 2024, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics launched counterattacks. Samsung Electronics introduced 'Bespoke AI Steam,' which exceeded 10,000 sales within 25 days of its April 2024 launch. LG Electronics showcased the 'RoboKing AI All-in-One' to consumers.
Chinese-made appliances are associated with privacy concerns, creating opportunities for domestic corporations. Robot vacuums with weak security could easily turn into hidden cameras. Robot vacuums equipped with cameras traverse areas such as bedrooms and bathrooms, increasing the risk of privacy breaches.
Domestic corporations plan to leverage differentiated security solutions, a noted weakness of Chinese corporations, as a competitive strategy. Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics intend to enhance their Internet of Things (IoT) security solutions and after-sales services.
Samsung Electronics applies its proprietary security solution, 'Knox,' to ensure safe use of various AI functions in appliances, managing all data, including personal information. LG Electronics is also expanding its proprietary security system, 'LG Shield,' centered around products with AI features.
In China, over 200 robot vacuum companies are competing and growing both quantitatively and qualitatively. Roborock introduced a new product with the world's first 5-axis folding mechanical arm at the Consumer Electronics Show 2025. The robot arm installed in the vacuum lifts small objects or obstacles before cleaning the remaining space. The idea is innovative, raising concerns about Chinese companies. What strategies will be needed to compete against them? LG Electronics' initiative to develop 'On-Device AI' chips specifically for its products appears promising. It is crucial to develop customized On-Device AI chips that only serve their products, embedding features that rival companies cannot replicate. Samsung Electronics also plans to establish a separate chip development organization within its finished goods division to secure its own chips.