Automation, robotics and AI: what’s new at CES 2023
From common objects like lawn mowers to incredible concept cars that learn from their drivers, almost every innovation presented at CES 2023 is equipped with AI. While some products take the form of “robots”, others use AI capabilities invisibly to make everyday products smarter and more useful.
As AMD CEO Lisa Su said in her keynote, “AI is truly the most important megatrend for the future of technology.”
Here’s a look at some of the best and most notable AI-powered products from CES:
The Peugeot Inception concept car
Screenshot by Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET
Progress in autonomous driving so far hasn’t been as fast as some thought. However, cars are gradually getting smarter, and autonomy seems to be on the horizon.
A concrete example: Peugeot unveiled the Inception Concept car, an electric vehicle that shows what a car can be, once you take off the steering wheel, get comfortable and let the car get to know you.
The Inception Concept can wake up when you approach the car, recognize you, greet you, then automatically adjust the car to your preferred driving settings. Instead of a cabin, which traditionally accommodates a driver and a passenger, this vehicle has a “living room” where passengers can relax. The car features an upgraded version of Peugeot’s i-Cockpit, which shows how a person can control a vehicle without a steering wheel.
To find out more about the Peugeot Inception Concept.
Parky, the autonomous electric vehicle charging robot
MGA
While self-driving cars are still in the works, CES showcased other market-ready self-driving mobility tools.
The Evar company presented Parky, an autonomous EV (Electric Vehicle) charging robot that delivers a charging station to any parking space. It’s designed, for example, for those who want to make their parking spaces more EV-friendly without increasing electrical capacity.
To use Parky, the driver must find a spot next to the EV robot connector and plug it in. You can then use NFC technology to call Parky, which will automatically locate your car. The robot provides a direct current charge of 15 kW per hour, for a range of 80 km.
The Ella smart stroller
GlüxKind
Everyone wants the best for their baby. That’s what GlüxKind’s Ella promises, a “smart” carrier with AI-powered features to keep baby safe and parents happy.
Using computer vision, the Ella stroller can provide parents with “environmental hazard alerts” when something is nearby to report.
The hands-free mode, which is still in beta, allows the stroller to move on its own, staying close to you and at your pace. It only works when the stroller is unoccupied. If the stroller strays too far, its intelligent braking system kicks in.
The Ella stroller also has all the features any stylish parent would want. It is equipped with a car seat, baby bassinet and child seat. It has an automatic Rock-My-Baby function and a built-in white noise machine. You can reserve a place to order a stroller from the GlüxKind Ella founder’s edition limited series.
The EcoFlow Blade robotic lawnmower
EcoFlow
Lawn care is another area of everyday life where AI comes in handy, and it was a hot topic at CES. EcoFlow introduces the EcoFlow Blade, which it claims is the “world’s first robotic lawnmower” capable of collecting fallen leaves. The robot uses intelligent in-app programs, GPS and LiDAR to perform automatic leaf collection and precise edge mowing.
U-Scan toilet bowl sensor
Withings
CES also demonstrated a clear need for health and wellness products that use AI to deliver personalized care and health data monitoring.
The Withings U-Scan toilet bowl sensor attaches to the inside of your toilet bowl. It includes a urine tracker for nutritional and metabolic analysis, checking pH, ketones, vitamin C levels, and more. A second tracker monitors women’s luteinizing hormone for ovulation cycles. Each promises early detection of potential health issues.
U-Scan claims it can even tell the difference between your urine and that of any visitor, based on various factors such as distance and flow rate. The accompanying app lets you check health statistics right from your smartphone, without having to fiddle with the toilet bowl sensor.
Citizen CZ smart watch
citizen
Citizen’s latest CZ Smartwatch uses AI and NASA research to measure your fatigue and alertness. The watch and accompanying app collect and analyze sleep-related data to accurately measure a user’s chronotype (a person’s preferred bedtime and wake-up time).
The watch uses other data, such as activity and heart rate, to advise users on specific ways to increase alertness. The more you use the watch, the more it learns about you, and the more accurate its predictions and advice become.
iVolve Pro Tennis Partner Robot
AI doesn’t just help you track your fitness, it can help you improve it, while having fun. The iVolve Pro robot was honored in the Fitness & Sports category at CES. The robot looks like a tennis ball machine but is said to be much more.
The robot uses AI and computer vision to dynamically shoot the ball and move around the field, simulating the experience of playing against another human.
