2024-09-15 10:59:33
Ballie can control smart and non-smart home devices
Drive autonomously around the house and complete assigned tasks
In 2020, Samsung first introduced us to Ballie, a home robot a little larger than a tennis ball that could move freely around the home and incorporated a camera, microphones and sensorsHowever, the product was cancelled and never reached stores.
After several years, the South Korean company has revived the project and presented a completely renewed version of Ballie. The robot, which is now shaped and sized like a football, debuts several functionalities to help users at home.
Ballie, an AI-powered domestic companion
In addition to unveiling some of the innovations that will arrive in its televisions in 2024, Samsung has also had its space for home automation at CES 2024. The new Ballie is presented as a personal home assistant that accompanies us physically.
The robot has been designed to drive autonomously around the house, learn from users’ habits and offer personalized solutions. We can understand this device as another piece of Samsung’s ecosystem of products and its connected home.
Ballie has the ability to control smart devices, but it also has an infrared sensor to turn on “non-smart” devices such as air conditioners and televisions. It can also project images onto the floor or walls in 1080p.
Hardware components such as the camera, LiDAR sensor, microphones and speakers provide several additional functions. The robot maps rooms in the home to identify where items are located and offers reminders, for example, to water the plants.
Ballie can be controlled with voice commands or through a chat on a smartphone. The robot, as we can see in a demonstration, responds in a friendly manner: “Hello Amy (the user’s name). I’m on patrol“Now I’m watching Copper (the house pet).”
Meanwhile, the young woman sees live images of her living room and asks the robot to dispense some food for her pet and play her favourite movie. Samsung promises that the robot can make life at home “more productive and enjoyable”.