Readybot cleans a living room, our hearts continue to flutter

We were already ga-ga over the hobbyist-built ReadyBot cleaning bot when it was scrubbing down a kitchen, but this latest video of the all-white droid picking up a living room cluttered with kid's toys has us solidly past crush and into dangerous obsession territory. Of particular note is that ReadyBot's brought a friend along for the ride -- it deploys a Roomba to vacuum the carpets while it works on the big stuff. Says lead dev Tom Benson, "Why should we re-invent something that already works great?" Good thinking -- an even better idea would be to send one of these things to Engadget HQ immediately. Video after the break.

[DESTOS @ Jun 23rd 2008 8:42PM]

Outstanding!

[Tom @ Jun 23rd 2008 8:48PM]

Yes, definatley outstanding...

[BigBirdUK @ Jun 23rd 2008 9:59PM]

You say that now. You wait 'till the day it's using you like a battery to power it's brothers!

[Cody @ Jun 23rd 2008 10:32PM]

@BigBirdUK

You've been watching too much of The Matrix.

[james @ Jun 24th 2008 5:47PM]

I was watching this video thinking "god that's slow and it's probably $1,000+!" but then I thought, so were computers ;) Don't think I'd want the model in the video but it'll eventually get faster and cheaper and who knows, 15 years from now maybe...

[g3dilos @ Jun 23rd 2008 8:46PM]

Now if only there was a robot that could pat you on the back...

[BigBirdUK @ Jun 23rd 2008 10:10PM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-9_(Doctor_Who)

[Flashpoint @ Jun 23rd 2008 9:00PM]

now if there was only a robot that could cook, clean and perform vulgar sex acts.

[Asha @ Jun 23rd 2008 11:35PM]

Well, it may not be able to cook or clean, but the vulgar sex acts are taken care of.

http://www.realdoll.com/ (Warning: explicit link!!)

[Ian @ Jun 24th 2008 2:49AM]

man those things are SOOOO creepy!!! its hard for me to look at them

[phanbouy @ Jun 23rd 2008 9:01PM]

R2's lookin plain these days. It's Lucas' fault.

[xor24 @ Jun 23rd 2008 9:19PM]

Awesome i need one... only flaw is is goes knid of slow but who cares, it is still awesome!!!!!!!

[BigBirdUK @ Jun 23rd 2008 10:00PM]

Unlike my cleaner. Any slower and she'd get caught in the very spiderwebs she is supposed to be frigging dusting away!

[360 sucks @ Jun 23rd 2008 9:20PM]

How much would one of these cost if it was mass-manufactured? I mean really? THIS is the kind of robots we need...ones that do regular housework. Who cares about all these stupid robots that dance when we could have one that's really useful? C'mon iRobot...if anyone can make this thing a reality and affordable (sub $2000), then you guys can!

[Matt @ Jun 23rd 2008 9:26PM]

dude... why just have one roomba? That thing should be packing a whole roomba fleet!

[engadgetier @ Jun 23rd 2008 10:44PM]

ATTACK, my minion force of dust bunny sucking roombas!!!!

[CraziestGadgets.com @ Jun 23rd 2008 9:36PM]

Like R2 dropping out of an XWing.

This thing moves so slowly, I'd be afraid of it scooping up my dog.

[Brock @ Jun 23rd 2008 9:43PM]

Is your dog permanently catatonic? Mine could get out of the way of that thing.

They need to show that thing work with the side panels off so we can be sure that Kenny Baker isn't insider there.

[CraigJ @ Jun 23rd 2008 9:45PM]

If they make one that will do my laundry I'll buy one...

Oh, and make it dog proof...

[ddub @ Jun 23rd 2008 9:52PM]

It looks like its controlled remotely and not autonomous. If so it seems kind of pointless then.

[dALE @ Jun 23rd 2008 9:55PM]

Oh thats just... can I get one that cleans the bathroom?

[BigBirdUK @ Jun 23rd 2008 10:02PM]

But they do!

http://www.irobot.com/uk/government_industrial.cfm

(If your bathroom is anything like mine!)

[TrafficGeek @ Jun 23rd 2008 11:05PM]

It's just doesn't have the same curb appeal in a French Maid outfit...

[phanbouy @ Jun 24th 2008 12:27AM]

there's such a thing as a traffic geek?

[Motoken @ Jun 23rd 2008 11:07PM]

if they made a durable robot that could clean my house for me and cook food, i would easily pay $5,000 for one.

i swear, there is a little man inside that box.

[matthew Crawford @ Jun 24th 2008 12:10AM]

that video was great!

[Hickeroar @ Jun 24th 2008 12:58AM]

I don't buy it for a second. I'd bet $$ it's remote controlled. There are FAR too many breaks in the video for this thing to be real.

[Lowest Ranked @ Jun 24th 2008 12:24PM]

Breaks in the video plus the time-lapse; the Roomba looks like its on Nitrous Oxide compared to the speed of the Un-ReadyBot.

[XenoX101 @ Jun 24th 2008 2:02AM]

"They're stealing our jobs!" -...scream housewives

[Kurian @ Jun 24th 2008 2:13AM]

But can it love?

[Lowest Ranked @ Jun 24th 2008 12:24PM]

Nope, but neither will any woman you'll ever meet.

This is a better investment.

[engine @ Jun 24th 2008 2:18AM]

Turns out the robot uprising is started when someone steals his bukkit.

[Ian @ Jun 24th 2008 2:52AM]

ok your picture scares me.. i never thought of that now or when i was a kid when that show was on.

[Blade Genexis @ Jun 24th 2008 2:33AM]

lol The little vacuum thing is funny. =P

-Blade Genexis

[Pauly @ Jun 24th 2008 10:23AM]

I wonder how it would fair in the kitchen against the robotic chef form Switzerland.

http://www.robotliving.com/2008/05/07/robotic-chef-makes-a-mean-omelette/

[Pocketdoc @ Jun 24th 2008 11:52AM]

Autonomous or is someone off to the side controlling this thing?

Would still be fun to sit down and direct the cleaning from a comfy chair, thogh.

[Joseph A Nickence @ Jun 26th 2008 12:36AM]

The thing is remote controlled for programming, just like any toy. That is only common sense. It needs a floor map, so it doesn't pick up knick-knacks, and sleeping pets. Carrying a Roomba is so rediculously obvious I'm surprised we even comment on that. I'm sure if you live in a single floor ranch home or an apt with the washer/dryer installed, the bot can be programmed to pick up your dirty clothes after playing with that "love doll" thing (ewww.) and drop them in for a cycle. Folding would require something more than a padded set of claws.

I'm guessing the designers are going from room to room and programming and debugging. Will it make beds? It all depends if you put your "love doll" away I have to agree, though, it needs to be at least a little faster. If it's in a doorway and you need to get through, you could read a book waiting for it to clear.