Ecovacs Robotics

Ecovacs Robotics
FormerlyTEK Electrical Company
Company typePublic
SSE: 603486
IndustryConsumer electronics
Founded1998; 26 years ago (1998)
FounderQian Dongqi
HeadquartersSuzhou, China
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
David Qian, President of the International Business Unit[1]
Products
Websitewww.ecovacs.com

Ecovacs Robotics (Chinese: 科沃斯; pinyin: Kēwòsī) is a Chinese technology company.[2] It is best known for developing in-home robotic appliances.[3] The company was founded in 1998 by Qian Dongqi and is headquartered in Suzhou, China. According to Global Asia, Ecovacs Robotics had more than 60% of the Chinese market for robots by 2013.[4] In 2023, Nikkei Asia had reported that the market capitalisation of Ecovacs Robotics has grown to near $6.38 billion, which is "roughly 5 times" that of the market capitalisation of rivalling US based iRobot, who manufactures the Roomba.[5]

History

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Ecovacs Robotics at CES 2012

In 1998, Qian Dongqi founded Ecovacs Robotics as an original equipment manufacturer for vacuum cleaners under the name TEK Electrical Company.[4] The company rebranded in late 2006 as an independent manufacturer of robotic devices for home cleaning.[6] By 2007, Ecovacs Robotics had introduced its floor cleaning Deebot series.[7] The product was featured and had a recurring role on Real World: Skeletons in 2015.[6]

From 2012 to 2014, Ecovacs Robotics expanded its operations with offices in the United States, Germany and Japan.[8] The company also introduced products for mobile entertainment and security, air purification and window cleaning.[9] Ecovacs Robotics collaborated and partnered with Marvel Entertainment for limited edition themed Deebots to coincide with the release of Captain America: Civil War.

At the 32nd DEF CON security conference, researchers presented documentation on significant vulnerabilities within Ecovac products, including the ability to remotely and silently record users within their homes by abusing unsecured Bluetooth connections. Ecovac did not acknowledge the report prior to publication by the researchers however, in a statement issued after the conference, Ecovac indicated that they would not issue software fixes for the associated vulnerabilities. [10]

Products

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It produces the DEEBOT, a floor cleaning robot, ATMOBOT, an air purifying robot and WINBOT, a window cleaning robot.[11][12] Deebot is a floor cleaning vacuum, which uses smart motion technology that guides the robot which can vacuum and wet mop floors. The Deebot has anti-drop and anti-collision sensors to navigate around objects for cleaning.[13][14] Winbot is a window cleaning robot which debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.[15] It suctions onto a vertical glass surface and cleans using microfiber pads and a squeegee.[16][17] Ecovacs featured BENEBOT, a shopping assist robot, at the Consumer Electronics Show.[18] In August 2016, Ecovacs released the UNIBOT, a smart robot with floor cleaning, home monitoring and air-purifying features.[19] In 2021, Ecovacs release the DEEBOT T9+, a robotic vacuum which uses obstacle avoidance technology to avoid objects when cleaning, it also comes complete with an auto-empty station. The DEEBOT T9+ also includes OZMO 2.0 technology which operates a vibrating mop along with an airfresher (scent: wild bluebell).

Ecovacs Robotics sells cordless stick vacuums under the brand Tineco.[20]

Recognition

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The company was recognized by the Consumer Electronics Show for its solar panel cleaning robot, receiving the 2015 CES Innovation Award.[21][22]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Climent, Maria (21 October 2016). "Hacia la Inteligencia del Sistema: "El humano debe ayudar al robot a decidir"". El Mundo (in Spanish).
  2. ^ Hezi Jiang (February 3, 2016). "In Las Vegas: 'The Chinese have arrived'". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 27, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  3. ^ Zhu Shenshen (May 22, 2016). "Service robots are the latest fad". Shanghai's First Financial Daily.
  4. ^ a b "La china Ecovacs lidera el mercado doméstico chino de robots" (in Spanish). Global Asia. 26 January 2013. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Chinese robot vacuums sweep global rivals with high tech, low prices". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
  6. ^ a b "How an Ecovacs Robot Made an Appearance on MTV". Customer Technology Association. 22 June 2015. Archived from the original on 25 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  7. ^ הופמן, צחי (10 October 2011). "צפו: שאבנו אבק עם רובוטים - וחזרנו עם המלצות". Globes (in Hebrew). גלובס.
  8. ^ Jiang, Hezi (28 June 2016). "ECOVACS to introduce new maid robots for US". China Daily USA.
  9. ^ "IT Branding: la fuerza comercial en España y Portugal de Ecovacs y Bissell". Ei Electro Imagen (in Spanish). 10 November 2016. Archived from the original on 25 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  10. ^ "Ecovacs home robots can be hacked to spy on their owners". 14 August 2024. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  11. ^ Ralph Gardner Jr. (March 17, 2013). "The Joy of Clear Glass". The Wall Street Journal.
  12. ^ Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn (August 4, 2016). "Ecovacs Robotics aims to clean up in Thai market". National Multimedia. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  13. ^ Scott Kramer (October 13, 2016). "How to Effortlessly Clean Your Floors". Forbes.
  14. ^ Diya Sen (April 10, 2016). "Meet Ecovacs' DEEBOT D79, A Vacuum Robot That Empties Its Own Dustbin". Tech Times.
  15. ^ Hezi Jiang. "Home robot-maker still scans market". China Daily USA.
  16. ^ Carolyn Forte (June 8, 2013). "Clean Like The Jetsons!". Good Housekeeping.
  17. ^ Michael S. Lasky (March 19, 2013). "Review: Ecovacs Winbot 7". Wired.
  18. ^ Loren Grush (January 10, 2015). "CES 2015: Benebot is an ultra-cute robotic shopping assistant". Popular Science.
  19. ^ "Ecovacs Robotics: New cleaning robot". Vernetzte Welt. August 2, 2016.
  20. ^ "Tineco Announces Opening of U.S. Office in Seattle" (Press release). 12 November 2019.
  21. ^ Mike Kezdi (December 15, 2014). "Ecovacs Robotics' Solar Cleaner Earns CES Award". Solar Builder.
  22. ^ Jason Koebler (January 7, 2015). "Here's an Autonomous, Solar Panel-Cleaning Robot". Vice Media.
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