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Tesla's inaugural Robotaxi rides will have a human 'safety monitor' on board

A select few will soon get to experience Tesla's robotaxi service for the first time, but they won't be alone in the car. The company plans to launch its fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Austin, Texas tomorrow, but a "Tesla Safety Monitor" will accompany the first riders, according to email invitations sent out to "Early Access Riders." It's unclear what capabilities the safety monitor will have, but they will sit in the front passenger seat of a self-driving Model Y. The email outlined

Less UFO, more Wall-E: You've never seen the best robot vacuum on the market

ZDNET's key takeaways The Matic is available for purchase at $1,095. This robot vacuum has a unique form factor and roller brush, and a debris bag that eliminates the need for a huge dock. The Matic has its drawbacks, mainly that it's too tall to clean under furniture and that it's currently only available for iOS, with an Android beta app planned for July. View now at Maticrobots Pioneer devices have the unique challenge of reinventing the wheel. They reimagine something that has become prev

Here are the best robot vacuum deals available right now

We’re in an age where you can realistically delegate tasks to smart hunks of metal, whether it’s a self-driving car or a robot that can clean on your behalf. Most of us probably won’t be able to afford the helpful sentient humanoids being developed in our lifetimes, but robot vacuums are an affordable way to experience that promised utopia right now. Today’s floor cleaners are also more advanced than ever. In addition to vacuuming, many of the best models can now mop, allowing you to tackle bot

Tesla Just Admitted Something Wildly Embarrassing About What'll Be in the Front Seat of All Its Robotaxis

Tesla is poised to finally launch its long-awaited robotaxi service this weekend in Austin, Texas. But there's a huge, embarrassing catch. As Electrek reports, the self-driving cabs will have a human "safety monitor" plunked in the front passenger seat — a far cry from Elon Musk's bold promise that his automaker would be hosting unsupervised rides this summer. The hilarious admission was disclosed in the recent invitations Tesla sent out to those interested in participating in the robotaxi ser

The eufy Omni E28 is a handy 2-in-1 robot vacuum and deep cleaner

eufy Robot Vacuum Omni E28 The eufy Omni E28 is a reliable enough robot vacuum that cleans hard and carpeted floors very well, but the real reason to consider buying one is the unique base station that can split into a portable deep cleaner, which is great for getting tough stains out of carpets. It isn't the best robovac in isolation, but the combo means you get a lot of cleaning power for the price tag. I review a lot of robot vacuum cleaners, so it’s always nice to check out a product in the

I tested a robot mower with no boundary wire - here's my verdict after a month

ZDNET's key takeaways The Eufy E15 Robot Mower for yards up to 0.2 acres is available for $1,800, while the Eufy E18 covers up to 0.3 acres and costs $2,000 This robot mower uses visual recognition, AI algorithms, and 3D sensors to distinguish the boundaries of a lawn and avoid obstacles in real time While it's good for smaller yards, I'd recommend it for fenced-in, flat yards, as it can get stuck on uneven terrain. $1,599.99 at Amazon $1,599.99 at Walmart more buying choices Amazon is curren

Topics: e15 eufy mower robot yard

A Brief, Incomplete, and Mostly Wrong History of Robotics

(An homage to one of my favorite pieces on the internet: A Brief, Incomplete, and Mostly Wrong History of Programming Languages) Early History: Various automata were built powered by water, clockwork or steam. Redditors at the time argue that they are not really robots. This is despite the fact that the word “robot” would not be invented until 1920. 1495: Leonardo da Vinci invents a mechanical knight that sits up, moves its head and waves its arm. Despite a lack of working prototype he immedia

Tesla’s first robotaxi rides will have a ‘safety monitor’ in the passenger seat

is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. Tesla has begun sending out invitations for its highly anticipated robotaxi service, but there’s one significant caveat: it’s installing a “safety monitor” in the front passenger seat, as previously reported by Electrek. The invites, which were sent to Tesla influencers and investors, say the human monitor will “accompany you on your trip” when ride

Roborock Q5 Max+ Robot Vacuum Hits Its Lowest Price, 53% Off Deal Live Now as an Early Prime Day Offer

You’ve had enough with vacuuming, and you should say it. In an ideal world, none of us would have to vacuum at all, but we’re not there yet. The good news though, is that those of us who can afford it can escape the slog of vacuuming daily, and instead palm it off on an adorable disc-shaped friend in the form of a robot vacuum. They can be pricey though, so you’ll generally want to make the most of deals when you can find them. See at Amazon Speaking of which, if you’re an Amazon Prime member,

FInally, a robot mower that effortlessly cuts grass for me - no boundary wire required

ZDNET's key takeaways The Eufy E15 Robot Mower for yards up to 0.2 acres is available for $1,800, while the Eufy E18 covers up to 0.3 acres and costs $2,000 This robot mower uses visual recognition, AI algorithms, and 3D sensors to distinguish the boundaries of a lawn and avoid obstacles in real time While it's good for smaller yards, I'd recommend it for fenced-in, flat yards, as it can get stuck on uneven terrain. $1,599.99 at Amazon $1,599.99 at Walmart more buying choices Amazon is curren

Topics: e15 eufy mower robot yard

Tesla's robotaxi debut will reportedly be limited to only 10 cars in very specific areas

The long-promised launch of Tesla's robotaxi service in Austin is scheduled for June 22, and it sounds like the company's initial offering will be modest at best. The Financial Times writes that Tesla will only have around 10 cars available for rides and that the company plans to make them "avoid the city’s most challenging intersections." If issues arise, remote operators will also reportedly be able to take control of the cars to make sure they reach their final destination. Tesla CEO Elon Mu

Amazon’s Zoox opens its first major robotaxi production facility

Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company Zoox has opened its first full-fledged production facility, where it expects to be able to one day build 10,000 robotaxis per year. The facility marks the latest step in Zoox’s evolution out of the development phase. The company is currently testing vehicles in multiple U.S. cities, and offering rides to employees in Las Vegas and San Francisco. Public access is expected to begin with an early-rider program in 2026. The 220,000-square-foot factory is loc

Amazon's Zoox boosts robotaxi production ahead of first commercial launch in Las Vegas

Amazon's Zoox robotaxi unit is ramping up vehicle production at a new facility in Hayward, California. Amazon -owned autonomous vehicle startup Zoox on Wednesday opened a sprawling new manufacturing facility in the San Francisco Bay Area, paving the way for more robotaxi production as it plans a commercial rollout of its fleet later this year. The company will use the site in Hayward, California, to increase its robotaxi fleet significantly. The facility is currently producing one robotaxi per

Zoox's New Manufacturing Facility Can Pump Out 10K Robotaxis a Year

Table of Contents Zoox's New Manufacturing Facility Can Pump Out 10K Robotaxis a Year As it gears up for its commercial launch, self-driving company Zoox on Wednesday shared that it's opened a 220,000-square-foot serial production facility for its purpose-built robotaxis. Located in Hayward, California, it's deemed to be the first-ever such facility in the US and will allow for the assembly of around 10,000 robotaxis a year. "The number of Zoox robotaxis we produce will grow and scale to match

Old Video Shows Elon Musk Saying That What Tesla's Launching This Month Wouldn't Count as Full Self-Driving

The launch date for Tesla's long-awaited robotaxi service in Austin, Texas continues to slip, raising embarrassing questions for the company. For one, the modified Model Y SUVs that will initially make up the EV maker's robotaxi fleet won't technically be driverless, because they'll be teleoperated by human employees if anything goes wrong. They'll also be geofenced to only the easiest areas to drive in, which as Electrek points out is a fascinating example of how CEO Elon Musk has moved goalp

Why I recommend this Roborock over competing robot vacuums (and I've tested dozens)

ZDNET's key takeaways The Roborock Saros 10 is available for $1,599. This robot vacuum and mop does it all, with 22,000Pa of suction power, a retractable LiDAR sensor that easily fits under furniture, and a vibrating mopping plate that removes stubborn stains on hard floors. Unfortunately, the docking station has required intervention twice due to clogging issues. $1,599.99 at Amazon 2025 has been a big year for Roborock. The company launched two flagship robot vacuum and mop combinations, ea

Tesla stock slips after report EV maker is halting Cybertruck and Model Y production

A Tesla Cybertruck sits on a lot at a Tesla dealership on April 15, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Tesla shares slid more than 2% Tuesday after a report that the electric vehicle maker was halting production of Cybertruck and Model Y models for a week in Austin, Texas. The production stoppage begins June 30, Business Insider reported, citing a staff meeting where the announcement was made. The pause, which is for maintenance on production lines, would be the third such shutdown at the Austin facility

Robot vacuums in HomeKit: Here are the supported models

When Apple released iOS 18.4 to everyone earlier this year, and it came with a big upgrade to the Home app. With iOS 18.4, users can now add robot vacuums to HomeKit for the first time thanks to the Matter smart home standard. Here are the robot vacuums compatible with HomeKit… What can you do with a robot vacuum in HomeKit? Once you add a compatible robot vacuum to the Home app, you’ll see the device alongside all your other HomeKit accessories. You can integrate your robot vacuum with diff

I made the switch to a smart litter box, and my cat approves

ZDNET's key takeaways The Whisker Litter-Robot 4 retails for $700 and comes in black or white. This self-cleaning litter box lets you keep tabs on your cat's health through the helpful app. However, it is an expensive buy, and the app frequently experiences glitches. You're either a cat person or a dog person, and this writer is a cat person. My cat, Norbert, is a loud, orange boy and is the cutest thing ever. He's easy to take care of, but one thing I, and perhaps all cat owners, dread is t

This robot vacuum and mop was already a bargain, but a 56% discount makes it better

ZDNET's key takeaways The Yeedi M12 Pro+ was first available for $1,100, but it's now available with a limited-time deal for $669. The Yeedi performs like a high-end, two-in-one robot, with 11,000Pa of suction power, roller brush technology to prevent hair tangles, and a self-washing station. Unfortunately, I had to make virtual boundaries around my medium-pile area rug as the mop pads repeatedly got the soft surface wet, even though they lift 9mm when over carpets. $399.98 at Amazon The Yeed

This eufy Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo Is Almost 50% Off, Backed by 82K Amazon Reviews

There’s something oddly satisfying about watching a robot glide across your floors handling all the cleaning. You don’t want to have to vacuum your floor. You probably don’t even want to mop it. And if that’s the case, all you have to do is unleash a robot to handle it all. In the past, robot vacuums have been less than affordable. But these days you can get one for an excellent price that can do more than just vacuum. It can mop, too! See at Amazon Run to Amazon now to get the Eufy Omni C20 R

Topics: don just mop robot vacuum

I tested the new Dreame X50 Ultra for months and here's my buying advice

ZDNET's key takeaways The Dreame X50 Ultra is available for $1,700, but on sale for $1,300. This is one of the best robot vacuums and mops available, with anti-tangle dual brushes, 20,000Pa of suction, and legs to cross up to 4.2cm thresholds. The Dreame X50 Ultra can get caught on obstacles and require intervention, and sometimes leaves streaks while mopping. $1,299.99 at Amazon The Dreame X50 Ultra is 24% off right now, available for $1,399 -- a $400 discount. Dreame has quickly become a p

This Roborock Q7 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop Drops to Near-Free Price Thanks to Almost 50% Off on Amazon

Tired of vacuuming your house? You and us both. It’s just not a fun task, no matter how you slice it. And it’s a thankless one. The end result is fine, sure, because you get floors that are clean. But who wants to keep taking time out of their day to clean? Couldn’t be us. If your floors are constantly covered in pet hair, crumbs, or tracked-in dirt, the idea of a robot vacuum doing the heavy lifting while you kick back (or, let’s be real, tackle a million other things) is pretty appealing. That

Roborock Smart Robot Drops from $599 to $159, Amazon Clears Stock at All-Time Low

With the latest robot vacuum models from Roborock now easily topping $2,000, it’s refreshing (and downright unbelievable) to see a device as capable as the Q7 Max robot vacuum and mop available for just $159 on Amazon: This limited-time deal marks a dramatic discount from the original list price of $599 (even if it’s now available at a regular price of $299 at Amazon). As you can imagine, it’s a new all time low price for this vacuum. See at Amazon Strong 4,200Pa of Suction Power The Roborock

Watching This Humanoid Robot Sort Packages Is Quite Something

Yep, they're definitely coming for our jobs. Package Deal Earlier this year, humanoid robotics company Figure showed off its Figure 02 robot using a sophisticated visual language system called Helix to sort packages at a logistics warehouse. Footage showed a small army of the humanoid robots deftly picking up packages of various sizes, shapes, and hardnesses, and manipulating their orientation. Just three months later, the company has published an update about its Helix learning-based approa

Boston Dynamics robots dance to ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ for ‘America’s Got Talent’ audition

A dance crew of four-legged robots from Boston Dynamics appeared on “America’s Got Talent” to perform a synchronized routine to Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now.” Their performance was impressive enough to earn four “yes” votes from the judges — but one of the five robots experienced some stage fright, perhaps, and shut down in the middle of the routine. But the show must go on, so nevertheless, the four other robots persisted. “Can I be honest with you?” judge Simon Cowell asked at the conclusion o

Eufy's 3-in-1 robot vacuum drops to a record-low price

Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products . Robot vacuums can save you a ton of time by automating a regular chore you'd otherwise have to do manually. But you may sometimes want a handheld or cordless vacuum to quickly clean up small messes, or debris in hard-to-reach places. Buying each type of vacuum is one way to get the bes

Tesla's Robotaxi Launch Date Was Supposed to Be Today, But We're Shocked to Hear That It's Been Pushed Back

The launch of Tesla's robotaxi network will have to wait. On Tuesday, CEO Elon Musk made a tweet stating that, "tentatively," the first public rides on its autonomous vehicles — which will not be in its purpose-built Cybercabs, but in regular Teslas with updated software — will start on June 22. But the date could shift, Musk added, because "we are being super paranoid about safety." That comment could prove to be revealing. Tesla's robotaxi initiative is clouded with uncertainty, because th

I tested a Eufy robot vacuum with a built-in handheld vac - and it just dropped to 42% off

ZDNET's key takeaways The Eufy Clean E20 3-in-1 robot vacuum and handheld vacuum combination costs $650. The Eufy E20 performed very well in suction testing; it offers up to 8,000Pa of suction power and thorough edge cleaning; the robot vacuum's dustbin doubles as a handheld vacuum that includes a floor attachment and a crevice tool. Unfortunately, the handheld vacuum doesn't offer powerful suction like that of a standalone unit like a Dyson, and removing it from the robot isn't easy with one

Researchers teach robot to play badminton using Nvidia RTX machine learning

Why it matters: Ever since Boston Dynamics first showcased its famous legged robots in 2013, numerous organizations have introduced machines that autonomously perform various professional and recreational activities. The latest research utilizes badminton to develop a robot's agility and coordination, which could help advance training methods and maneuverability. Scientists at ETH Zürich recently published a study and video (below) explaining how they trained a quadrupedal robot to play badmint