Sweeping the floor can be a hassle in its own right, but for some people, having to stoop down and collect the sweepings in a dustpan is just too much. If you're one of those people, you might like Bruno – it's a garbage can that automatically sucks up debris that's swept toward it.
Bruno uses motion and light sensors to determine when a broom is near its bottom/front-mounted suction port. Once activated, it vacuums up whatever has been swept into that area, and delivers it into its bag – that's the same bag that garbage is manually thrown into, by opening the lid on top.
If your hands are full, that lid can also be opened via another motion detector.
The can is powered by a rechargeable 18-volt battery, which the designers tell us should be good for about one month of typical use per charge. When it needs juicing up, its retractable power cord can be temporarily pulled out.
Bruno can use store-bought 13-gallon (49-liter) bags, although if you go with its Bruno-specific bags, the extras can be stored in a compartment within the can. An app will warn you when you're about to run out of those bags, plus it will remind you to take out the trash on garbage-collection days.
Should you be picturing a Bruno in your life, it's currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign. You can preorder one in your choice of five colors for US$139 – delivery is scheduled for October, assuming it reaches production. The planned retail price is $229.
Sources: Bruno, Kickstarter