Ohmni is a Wi-Fi-connected home robot designed to “maximize the human connection” and bring together loved ones who are far apart. Ohmni is human height, with a neck that tilts and nods to make it more human-like. Mounted on the neck is a tablet, which lets a remote user, such as a grandparent across the country, operate the robot and see family and everything they’re doing. The idea is that the person controlling Ohmni is as close as possible to physically present, freeing the people who are with the bot to go about their activities, such as watching movies or cooking, bringing families closer together.
Designers also tout how quiet Ohmni is, making it unobtrusive — this video shows it rolling silently past a woman taking a nap.
Ohmni’s co-founder Thuc Vu told The New York Times in January that the company has big plans for the family robot’s future: “In five years, it will be able to wash dishes, do laundry and clean the house.” So maybe Rosie isn’t so far off.
