As Over Coffee® counts down to CES® 2019, we’re posting some of our most popular podcasts recorded during the 2018 show.  Say it with me: “WHOA!”

This Laundroid robot is designed to take over a job you’re currently doing.  But you almost certainly won’t object.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

That’s because the Laundroid, which Tokyo-based Seven Dreamers Laboratories created, is the world’s first fully automated laundry-folding robot.

Laundroid was more than twelve years in the making, says Seven Dreamers President and CEO Dr. Shin Sakane.  (You’ll recall that we first saw a prototype during CES ® 2016.)

During CES® 2018, in Las Vegas, Shin shared the story of the “Laundroid” robot, and offered a preview of its official debut.   At the time we spoke, Seven Dreamers was planning to launch it in Tokyo and San Francisco.  A pilot program was also under consideration.

We have an email in to Shin, with a request for an update!   We’ll let you know as soon as we know–and hope to update you further from CES® 2019.

UPDATED: Seven Dreamers will announce the update of Laundroid by March, 2019, which is the end of the fiscal year in Japan, according to an email from their PR manager.  Unfortunately, since CES® 2019 happens just before the end of their fiscal year, they will not be in Las Vegas this time.

Meanwhile, this has to be one of the coolest robots we’ve seen!

On this edition of Over Coffee®, you’ll hear:

• How Shin first came up with the concept for his laundry-folding robot;

• What was involved, in making his vision a reality;

• One of the most challenging hurdles, in translating the task of folding clothes into AI;

• How the Laundroid works, to sort and fold clothes;

• Shin’s “wow” moment in the creation process;

• How to contact Seven Dreamers Laboratories for information on their “pilot program”, in the U.S.

And, follow the Laundroid on their Facebook page!

CES 2019 happens Tuesday, January 8th, through Friday, January 11th, 2019, in Las Vegas.