Dyson may have branched out recently into fans and hand dryers, the company's name is synonymous with vacuum cleaners. On that score, its products are considered some of the most high-tech available.
But there's one competitor that's arguably even more advanced: the Roomba.
The little robot vacuum cleaner has gobbled up headlines (and market share) the past few years, and the company behind it, iRobot, has subsequently launched robots that scrub floors and clean gutters.
But so far Dyson hasn't responded with a similar product. Why not?
Mashable had a chance to sit down with Dyson's industrial design director, Alex Knox, and we asked him why the company hasn't made a robot vacuum.
"We got into robots years ago," Knox says. "We've never been satisfied that we've cracked it yet. We want a device that really will clean the carpet incredibly well and will do it in an intelligent fashion, and actually that's a pretty difficult challenge."
Obviously, companies like iRobot and LG have taken that challenge head on. But the results so far aren't good enough for Dyson, Knox says.
"We don't think they're really good enough. I don't think they clean carpets as good as a full-size vacuum cleaner would, and that's got to be the objective."
As for when Dyson may come out with a robot vacuum, Knox demurs, but he says they company continues to work on the issue. You can see everything he has to say about potential Dyson robot vacuums in the video above.
What would you like a Dyson version of the Roomba to be? Sound off in the comments.
BONUS: Dyson's Ball Vacuum, Inside and Out
The DC39 ($450) is Dyson's latest vacuum. Dyson says its engineers spent three years figuring out how to miniaturize all the components of a vacuum cleaner so they would fit in the floor vacuum version of the Dyson Ball.
Here's what the Dyson Ball looks like on the inside.
The ball's low center of gravity is created by positioning all components in a balanced arrangement with heavy ones such as the vacuum motor lower and more centralized, maximizing stability.
The DC39 has spring-loaded cable rewind. The power cable retracts with the touch of a button.
Here's the seal between the top duct and motor inlet ducting.
Power cable rewind button and switch mechanism.
The on/off button is designed to follow the curve of the ball.
The AC vacuum motor with acoustically optimized fan, re-engineered to reduce the noise generated by the fan blades
The motor bucket surrounds and houses the motor adding an additional layer of acoustic insulation
This filter stops 99.97% of exhaust air particles greater than 0.3 microns.
In the event of a blockage, the valve opens, allowing air to continue to flow to the vacuum motor and preventing damage to the machine.
Ball bearings at the axles reduce friction and enable the ball to move smoothly.
The ball's smooth edges reduce friction and contact area with the carpet, stopping the machine from digging in.
The "Animal" version of the DC39 has an accessory for picking up pet hair and costs $500.
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