MD AirForce vacuum emails over powerlines

Admittedly, this vacuum from MD Manufacturing has a little less robot-action than we're accustomed to, but it makes up for it with some innovative Internet connectivity to accommodate our laziness in other ways. In addition to packing a pile of dirt-storing capacity, the AirForce central vacuum incorporates Universal Powerline Bus (UPB) technology to provide Internet access to the vacuum over your home's AC wiring. Which means that when it's not hooking up with other lonely vacuums on MySpace, it'll send an email to let you know when its bag needs replacing, or if it encounters other problems like a clog or overheating. Alas, the aforementioned lack of robotic abilities means you'll actually have to fix the problem yourself, but that'll no doubt change one day -- when an overstuffed bag will be the least of our robotic vacuum problems.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 11th 2006 11:32AM]

Insert "Internet is a series of tubes" joke here.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 11th 2006 11:52AM]

I, for one, welcome our ever-sucking Robotic Overlords.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 11th 2006 12:19PM]

I, for one... aw you beat me to it

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 31st 2006 4:51PM]

But can it 'blog???

[Mojo Yugen Posted Sep 11th 2006 12:20PM]

So can I send email back to it?

And sending email to me saying that the bag is full is somehow more efficent that a little blinking light how?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 11th 2006 12:51PM]

This is pretty funny considering when I run my dirt devil it causes my enet over power stuff (Netgear 85mbps) to completely drop out. Wonder if this causes the same wonderful loss of service.

[jygsaw Posted Sep 11th 2006 1:03PM]

I told you not to bother me while I was vacuuming!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 11th 2006 3:13PM]

i had a system like this in my old house (no email). it would've be nice to have an idicator on the handle or something so you didn't have to go to the basement to check the bag, but sending an e-mail?!?!? i think thats retarded..and i'm a g33k

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 12th 2006 7:15AM]

I find it interesting that a cutting edge tech site like this would refer to vacuums with "bags". That's so old-fashioned!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 13th 2006 12:29AM]

As the inventor of the product I would have to state there are a few corrections. First, this is a central vacuum and thus ignored for most of it's life. There is an indication on the handle and if you interface the UPB signal with your home automation system, it will e-mail the factory with the warning signal. We then translate the signal and send out the proper signal via e-mail message (automated) to the homeowner or service technician. It also automatically shuts off when the telephone or doorbell rings. Yes, this product is available now. Visit our website www.builtinvacuum.com.

Grant Olewiler
General Manager
M.D. Manufacturing, Inc.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 6th 2007 1:55PM]

Check out a great invention for central vacuums called the Hide-A-Hose. The vacuum hose that you typically drag from inlet to inlet is stored in the vacuum pipe itself, one at each location. When you are done vacuuming, flip the lever and away goes the hose. To check out a video click on KURTZ Specialized Systems and go to the Hide-A-Hose link at http://www.kurtzspecial.com