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Vac 'n' Roll : The Dustball robot cleaning concept

Vac 'n' Roll : The Dustball robot cleaning concept
The Dustball robotic vacuum cleaner would roll around public spaces, like airports and train stations
The Dustball robotic vacuum cleaner would roll around public spaces, like airports and train stations
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The Dustball concept on display
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The Dustball concept on display
Cutaway showing the internal electronics of the Dustball concept
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Cutaway showing the internal electronics of the Dustball concept
The Dustball robotic vacuum cleaner returns to its docking station for charging or when the dust collector is full
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The Dustball robotic vacuum cleaner returns to its docking station for charging or when the dust collector is full
The designer says that the unit will move around by shifting its internal weight across two axes
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The designer says that the unit will move around by shifting its internal weight across two axes
The Dustball robotic vacuum cleaner would roll around public spaces, like airports and train stations
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The Dustball robotic vacuum cleaner would roll around public spaces, like airports and train stations
The Dustball concept on display
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The Dustball concept on display
View gallery - 6 images

We do like our robotic vacuum cleaners here at Gizmag, but most of those that we have featured so far have, for good reason, followed a similar short and squat design. Dutch designer Dave Hakkens has opted to turn his back on this familiar shape and the household cleaner environment in which such a device might be found, in favor of a fairly large, industrial-strength ball for cleaning up public spaces.

Hakkens' Dustball concept is said to have been inspired by a hamster ball, but is not intended to be powered by the frantic footwork of tiny mammals. Although not giving away any specifics, the designer says that the unit will move around by shifting its internal weight across two axes. A motor inside the core of the large football-sized device takes care of generating the flow of air through the honeycomb of vents in the tough outer shell, and will also blow out short bursts of used air to disturb otherwise inaccessible dirt from corners.

When the dust collector is full, the Dustball returns to its docking station – where it also receives charge for the batteries – and starts to glow. The two halves of the outer shell are held together by magnetic force, which is released when the unit needs emptying to allow the dust collector to be removed.

The designer says that the unit will move around by shifting its internal weight across two axes
The designer says that the unit will move around by shifting its internal weight across two axes

Hakkens sees the Dustball rolling around public spaces, like train stations or airports. If and when it crosses the path of a pedestrian while going about its business, it can just be kicked out of the way. Whether this would lead to some impromptu games of robot football remains to be seen.

I don't see this concept as being a particularly efficient way of cleaning a floor. The surface contact point is far too small to make this anything more than a fairly novel and attractive visual distraction for passengers. It's more likely that stressed-out travelers will view such a machine with irritation rather than wonder – as it gets under their feet or causes them to fall as they rush from one terminal to the next.

Then there's the problem of getting under seating and furniture to clean up the crumbs and dirt that's fallen through gaps or been kicked out of sight. The current variations on a flat disc design for such devices have been made that way for a very good reason.

Such things would no doubt be ironed out if and when the Dustball jumps from unusual concept piece to prototype to production model... if it ever does.

Via Yanko

View gallery - 6 images
4 comments
4 comments
Jack Thompson
\"Hakkens sees the Dustball rolling around public spaces\" I see it getting nicked... Great idea but everyone would want one at home, so would steal them regardless of the fact they wouldn\'t have a charging station, they\'d probably be easy to fabricate or get hold of anyway. Great idea, but can\'t see it happening in public places where there\'s still a large amount of average people affected by poverty.
agulesin
Looks like a non-starter... It\'s only going to pick up a trail of dust the width of its contact with the ground (if that), and would never have a slightest chance of getting into corners where all the filth accumulates!
(more likely that those playing football with it would pick it up and buy themselves a spare charger to use it at home!)
Paul van Dinther
Flight delayed. Gonna miss my connection and spend hours at the terminal. Here is this happy vacuum cleaner rolling past. Sure as hell I kick that think into the next century and I doubt the internal components can handle that.
Form over function. Nice as a concept study.
Lisa Jordan
Humm! Indeed it is great and efficient way to get your entire floor cleaned in much optimizing way.