SwitchBot’s new multitasking robot combines a robot vacuum with an adaptable platform that can support multiple gadgets. | Image: SwitchBot
SwitchBot, the company behind the ingenious robot finger that presses buttons for you, just debuted the closest thing yet to a real Rosie the Robot.
The SwitchBot Multitasking Household Robot K20 Plus Pro is a version of SwitchBot’s mini robot vacuum that attaches to a new “FusionPlatform” — a circular device on wheels that fits over the robot and connects to various SwitchBot devices.
Once attached via three mechanical claws, the robot pushes the platform around, enabling it to deliver items around your house, act as a security camera using SwitchBot’s pan / tilt cam, purify the air with the SwitchBot Air Purifier, or provide spot cooling with its fan. It can even carry your phone or tablet on a selfie stick, and SwitchBot says the platform will be compatible with third-party devices. The company also plans to add more features, including a mechanical arm.
Image: SwitchBot
The K20 Plus Pro working as an air purifier and pet monitor.
The robot can do all of these tasks autonomously using automations set up in the SwitchBot app — such as “purifying the air upon entry into a room,” or you can control it using the app or with voice commands through Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple’s Siri Shortcuts.
The robot navigates via a map the lidar-equipped device creates, and SwitchBot claims it has “centimeter-level accuracy in avoiding obstacles and navigating tight spaces” and “moves steadily and effortlessly over everyday barriers.”
The platform has various power ports, including USB-C, so, in theory, you can plug anything into it — although it has a weight limit of just under 18 pounds (8kg). SwitchBot says the FusionPlatform can work with “custom-made attachments, 3D-printed components, and third-party devices with multiple power ports for speakers, car fridges, or even UV sterilization lamps.”
Image: SwitchBot
A breakdown of the FusionPlatform while attached to the K20 Plus Pro robot vacuum.
A teaser image the company released shows a larger robot with the addition of a robotic arm, with an asterisk saying, “Mechanical arm is still under development.” There’s also the option of a combo base station for the K20 Plus Pro, which adds a stick vac, allowing you to summon the robot and do a quick touch-up with the handheld vac. If that mechanical arm ever comes to fruition, maybe the robot can take over this chore for you, too. That would get it a lot closer to its Rosie aspirations.
Image: SwitchBot
SwitchBot released an image that hinted at its plans for the K20 Plus Pro, which includes a mechanical arm.
This modular approach seems smart, and while no pricing has been announced, it should keep costs down. Rather than spending years and lots of money developing a humanoid robot to try and mimic human actions, adding mobility to existing devices feels more achievable.
In use, it will involve more human interaction — you’ll presumably need to remove the air purifier and replace it with the fan when you want to cool off — but it also feels like something people will use in their homes. Without the ability to climb stairs, it’ll be fairly limited in my three-story home, but I’m still looking forward to testing it out.
Image: SwitchBot
The K20 Plus Pro’s modular approach makes it capable of doing several things, including air purifying, cooling, vacuuming and home monitoring — some simultaneously. However, you’ll have to manually install each device when needed.
Switchbot plans to launch the K20 Plus Pro in May or June 2025 in custom bundled kits for all the various functions — bundling the vacuum with a circulating fan to form the K20 Plus Pro Air Flow Kit, or the K20 Plus Pro Combo with the SwitchBot air purifier to make up the K20 Plus Pro Omni Clean Kit, or combining all of the above for the SwitchBot K20 Plus Pro Omni Ultimate Kit.
The S20 mopping robot vacuum gets some upgrades that matter
Image: SwitchBot
The S20 Pro robot vacuum and mop has two new auto-empty base stations: one that can hook into your plumbing to automatically refill the robot and another that uses a refillable water tank.
SwitchBot also announced the SwitchBot S20 Pro this week, which is similarly slated to launch in May or June. The successor to the S10, one of our favorite mopping robot vacuums, the S20 adds an extendable roller mop and side brush to help the robot mop and vacuum in harder-to-reach areas such as corners and along walls. The S20 also has 15,000Pa of suction power, up from 6,500Pa on the S10.
The SwitchBot S10 was one of the first robot vacuum mops to feature plumbing hookups, enabling hands-free draining and refilling of its onboard water tanks via a compact battery-powered water station. (It has a separate auto-empty charging dock). While the S20 is compatible with the water station, which doesn’t need an outlet so it has more versatile placement options, the robot comes with the choice of two all-in-one auto-empty base stations: one with a regular water tank you manually refill or one that can hook into your plumbing. The S20 also works with SwitchBot’s Evaporative Humidifier and can be programmed to automatically refill the humidifier when it’s out of water.
Image: SwitchBot
The S20 Pro features the same self-cleaning roller mop found on the S10, but it can now extend the mop from the robot’s body to better clean edges and corners.
SwitchBot confirmed that the K20 Plus Pro (vacuum portion) and the S20 will support Matter over Wi-Fi, making them compatible with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and any other platform that supports robot vacuums in Matter.
