Your robot vacuum will soon be able to play with your cat and charge your phone. Here's what's in store for you in the future.

A robot that cleans is good. A robot that also acts as a sports coach or cat babysitter is better. Researchers believe that these machines are largely underutilized, and prove that they can easily be made to do more.

Robot vacuum cleaners have become everyday objects in many homes. They clean the floor autonomously, avoid obstacles, and wisely return to their base once the task is completed. But according to scientists, these devices are far from reaching their full potential. On average, they are only active for two hours a day. The rest of the time, they remain motionless, even though they could be performing many more useful tasks around the house.

This is what has been demonstrated researchers from the Universities of Bath and Calgary. By modifying a robot such as Roomba, they managed to make it perform several new functions. These include: charging a phone by following it around the room, projecting a sports video onto a wall during a workout, monitoring the cooking of a dish remotely using an onboard camera, or display a "do not disturb" message in a specific room.

A reprogrammed Roomba manages to charge a phone, broadcast a workout, and monitor the house

The study lists nearly 100 possible functions with simple modifications. For example, the vacuum cleaner can carry groceries, water plants, or interact with a pet. To achieve this, it is sometimes necessary to add unusual elements such as an articulated arm, a small cart, or even a projector. But the whole thing remains feasible, and researchers insist that these robots can be transformed without the need for complex or expensive technology.

The market for domestic robots is experiencing strong growth, estimated at €21.5 billion by 2028. In this context, scientists are calling for a review of how we design these devices. Instead of restricting them to a single task, it would be possible to integrate them more into everyday life. According to researchers, the onboard intelligence and mobility capabilities of these robots are ideal for doing much more than just cleaning. If you're considering purchasing one, be sure to check out our guide to choosing the right robot vacuum cleaner, with practical advice and our selection of the best models.